Trivia Time

Which toy brand is known for its model kits?

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model

American  

[mod-l] / ˈmɒd l /

noun

• models
  plural

1. a standard or example for imitation or comparison.

   Synonyms:

   original, mold, archetype, prototype, paragon

2. a representation, generally in miniature, to show the construction or appearance of something.

3. an image in clay, wax, or the like, to be reproduced in more durable material.

4. a person or thing that serves as a subject for an artist, sculptor, writer, etc.

5. a person whose profession is posing for artists or photographers.

6. a person employed to wear clothing or pose with a product for purposes of display and advertising.

7. a style or design of a particular product.

   His car is last year's model.

8. a pattern or mode of structure or formation.

9. a typical form or style.

10. a simplified representation of a system or phenomenon, as in the sciences or economics, with any hypotheses required to describe the system or explain the phenomenon, often mathematically.

11. Zoology. an animal that is mimicked in form or color by another.

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adjective

1. serving as an example or model.

   a model home open to prospective buyers.

2. worthy to serve as a model; exemplary.

   a model student.

3. being a small or miniature version of something.

   He enjoyed building model ships.

verb (used with object)

• models,
  present (3rd person singular)
• modeled,
  past participle,  past
• modelled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• modeling,
  present participle
• modelling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to form or plan according to a model.

2. to give shape or form to; fashion.

   Synonyms:

   design

3. to make a miniature model of.

4. to fashion in clay, wax, or the like.

5. to simulate (a process, concept, or the operation of a system), commonly with the aid of a computer.

6. to display to other persons or to prospective customers, especially by wearing.

   to model dresses.

7. to use or include as an element in a larger construct.

   to model new data into the forecast.

verb (used without object)

• models,
  present (3rd person singular)
• modeled,
  past participle,  past
• modelled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• modeling,
  present participle
• modelling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to make models.

2. to produce designs in some plastic material.

3. to assume a typical or natural appearance, as the parts of a drawing in progress.

4. to serve or be employed as a model.

model British  

/ ˈmɒdəl /

noun

1. 1. a representation, usually on a smaller scale, of a device, structure, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a model train

2. 1. a standard to be imitated

      she was my model for good scholarship

   2. ( as modifier )

      a model wife

3. a representative form, style, or pattern

4. a person who poses for a sculptor, painter, or photographer

5. a person who wears clothes to display them to prospective buyers; mannequin

6. a preparatory sculpture in clay, wax, etc, from which the finished work is copied

7. a design or style, esp one of a series of designs of a particular product

   last year's model

8. 1. an original unique article of clothing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a model coat

9. a simplified representation or description of a system or complex entity, esp one designed to facilitate calculations and predictions

10. logic

    1. an interpretation of a formal system under which the theorems derivable in that system are mapped onto truths

    2. a theory in which a given sentence is true

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verb

1. to make a model of (something or someone)

2. to form in clay, wax, etc; mould

3. to display (clothing and accessories) as a mannequin

4. to plan or create according to a model or models

5. to arrange studio lighting so that highlights and shadows emphasize the desired features of a human form or an inanimate object

model Scientific  

/ mŏd′l /

1. A systematic description of an object or phenomenon that shares important characteristics with the object or phenomenon. Scientific models can be material, visual, mathematical, or computational and are often used in the construction of scientific theories.

2. See also hypothesis theory

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Synonym Usage

See ideal.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• modeler
  noun
• modeller
  noun
• premodel
  verb (used without object)
• unmodeled
  adjective
• unmodelled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• models
  plural

Participles

• modeling
  present
• modelling
  present
• modeled
  past
• modelled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• model
  simple
• models
  simple
• have modeled
  perfect
• have modelled
  perfect
• has modeled
  perfect
• has modelled
  perfect
• am modeling
  progressive
• am modelling
  progressive
• are modeling
  progressive
• are modelling
  progressive
• is modeling
  progressive
• is modelling
  progressive
• have been modeling
  perfect progressive
• have been modelling
  perfect progressive
• has been modeling
  perfect progressive
• has been modelling
  perfect progressive

Past

• modeled
  simple
• modelled
  simple
• had modeled
  perfect
• had modelled
  perfect
• was modeling
  progressive
• was modelling
  progressive
• were modeling
  progressive
• were modelling
  progressive
• had been modeling
  perfect progressive
• had been modelling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will model
  simple
• will have modeled
  perfect
• will have modelled
  perfect
• will be modeling
  progressive
• will be modelling
  progressive
• will have been modeling
  perfect progressive
• will have been modelling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of model

First recorded 1565–75; earlier modell, from Middle French modelle, from Italian modello, from Vulgar Latin modellus (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin mod(ulus), a unit of measurement ( see module) + -ellus -elle

Explanation

To model something is to show it off. To make a model of your favorite car is to create a miniature version of it. To be a model is to be so gorgeous that you’re photographed for a living. The word model, which can be a noun, verb, or adjective, comes from the Latin word modulus, meaning “measure,” or “standard.” If you are a model student, you do everything as the school and teachers wish: you are the standard. If you model your life on your hero's, you try to do what he or she does. If you are a clothing designer you will need to hire a model to model your creations.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

model models modeled modelled modeling modelling

Automakers are expected to redesign just 9% of their lineup on average across the 2026 through 2028 model years—well below the 20-year average of 14%, according to a report by veteran automotive analyst John Murphy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

OpenAI will scrap the release of its next-generation AI model due to safety worries.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

OpenAI will not release its newest artificial intelligence model, known as Astra 6.1, after internal testing by the ChatGPT-maker revealed it did not meet safety standards, the company confirmed Monday.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

The flagship GPT-6 Astra agentic model was released in September and specialises in complex reasoning and executing tasks autonomously.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Now Dr. Damasio turns to a computer program called Brainvox that is used to reassemble brain scan "slices" into a three-dimensional model.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

Fewer new models are hitting the market than at any time in recent history—a direct hangover from the industry’s massive shift to EVs and its abrupt pullback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

That is because GM’s premium brand went nearly all-in on EVs while culling a trio of gas-powered models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

DiFeo, the Cadillac dealer, faces what he describes as an agonizing wait for fresh models.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

The lull in new models comes amid tepid U.S. auto sales as buyers balk at high vehicle prices and seek relief from rising gas prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Everyone knew the classical models of latter-day seclusion represented by Cincinnatus and described by Cicero and Virgil.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

For many celebrities, getting a Funko Pop! doll modeled after themselves is a sign they’ve made it in Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

TikTok on Friday agreed to pay Alabama at least $100 million and enact time limits and other restrictions for teen users, avoiding trial with a settlement modeled on Instagram-owner Meta's recent agreement with US states.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

The school assessed a range of pricing scenarios and modeled enrollment projections.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

Managed-futures ETFs are modeled after commodity trading advisers, a type of hedge fund that generally trades futures contracts across commodities, currencies and financial assets including fixed income and equities.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

It’s modeled after a school in Switzerland run by the behaviorist Emil Binder.

From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko

Its ruling Communist Party has used five-year plans modelled on those of the former Soviet Union to set its development targets and social priorities since the 1950s.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

Taking into account the world's ageing population, they then modelled how heat will affect the health of three different age ranges by 2100 under varying levels of global warming.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

She is a commentator for outlets within conservative French billionaire Vincent Bollore's media stable, including the CNews television channel, which is seen as modelled on America's Fox News.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

Madrid have since agreed personal terms, said to be modelled on England midfielder Jude Bellingham's contract as they are incentivised on performances and effectively improve year-on-year.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

“The optimum population,” said Mustapha Mond, “is modelled on the iceberg—eight-ninths below the water line, one-ninth above.”

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

For 2027, Hosseini is modeling for Micron’s earnings per share to reach around $200, which he noted is above the consensus for $165.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

To find a compound capable of blocking BRCT7/8, the researchers screened thousands of chemicals with a combination of computer modeling and laboratory experiments.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026

At the recent European Geosciences Union general assembly in Vienna, scientists presented work modeling these geophysical measurements around one of Phobos' most dramatic features, Stickney Crater.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

However, publicly available studies on its projects “are non-existent, leaving few anchors on which to pin modeling assumptions.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

After dinner TJ works with me on modeling in heels.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

For the new series, a glut of huge names and personalities from across the worlds of film, TV, music, modelling and broadcasting have also been selected.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

Swinney said it would "not be my intention" for people to travel further, with initial modelling showing the country divided into two east and west health boards.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

“Our modelling suggests eurozone headline inflation could rise above 3.5% later this year if current energy prices persist,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Using modelling simulations, they determined the most likely scenario was that the object is powered by a central black hole surrounded by a cocoon of gas that makes it resemble a star.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

References to the theories of Ptolemy and Copernicus are thus references to their mathematical modelling of the cosmos.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• copy
• figure
• image
• painting
• photograph
• picture
• portrait