a standard or example for imitation or comparison.
a representation, generally in miniature, to show the construction or appearance of something.
an image in clay, wax, or the like, to be reproduced in more durable material.
a person or thing that serves as a subject for an artist, sculptor, writer, etc.
a person whose profession is posing for artists or photographers.
a person employed to wear clothing or pose with a product for purposes of display and advertising.
a style or design of a particular product: His car is last year's model.
a pattern or mode of structure or formation.
a typical form or style.
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.
Zoology. an animal that is mimicked in form or color by another.
adjective
serving as an example or model: a model home open to prospective buyers.
worthy to serve as a model; exemplary: a model student.
being a small or miniature version of something: He enjoyed building model ships.
verb (used with object),mod·eled,mod·el·ing or (especially British)mod·elled,mod·el·ling.
to form or plan according to a model.
to give shape or form to; fashion.
to make a miniature model of.
to fashion in clay, wax, or the like.
to simulate (a process, concept, or the operation of a system), commonly with the aid of a computer.
to display to other persons or to prospective customers, especially by wearing: to model dresses.
to use or include as an element in a larger construct: to model new data into the forecast.
verb (used without object),mod·eled,mod·el·ing or (especially British)mod·elled,mod·el·ling.
to make models.
to produce designs in some plastic material.
to assume a typical or natural appearance, as the parts of a drawing in progress.
to serve or be employed as a model.
Origin of model
1565–75; earlier modell < Middle Frenchmodelle < Italianmodello < Vulgar Latin*modellus, equivalent to Latinmod(ulus) (see module) + -ellus-elle
Related formsmod·el·er; especially British, mod·el·ler, nounpre·mod·el, verb (used without object),pre·mod·eled,pre·mod·el·ing or (especially British)pre·mod·elled,pre·mod·el·ling.un·mod·eled, adjectiveun·mod·elled, adjective
also modelling, 1650s, "action of bringing into desired condition," verbal noun from model (v.). Meaning "action of making models" (in clay, wax, etc.) is from 1799. Meaning "work of a fashion model" is from 1941.
model
n.
1570s, "likeness made to scale; architect's set of designs," from Middle French modelle (16c., Modern French modèle), from Italian modello "a model, mold," from Vulgar Latin *modellus, from Latin modulus "a small measure, standard," diminutive of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (n.1)).
Sense of "thing or person to be imitated" is 1630s. Meaning "motor vehicle of a particular design" is from 1900 (e.g. Model T, 1908; Ford's other early models included C, F, and B). Sense of "artist's model" is first recorded 1690s; that of "fashion model" is from 1904. German, Swedish modell, Dutch, Danish model are from French or Italian.
model
v.
1660s, "fashion in clay or wax," from model (n.). Earlier was modelize (c.1600). From 1915 in the sense "to act as a fashion model, to display (clothes)." Related: Modeled; modeling; modelled; modelling.
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. See also hypothesistheory.
