blueprint

/ˌbluˈprɪnt/

/ˈbluprɪnt/

Other forms: blueprints; blueprinted; blueprinting

A blueprint is a guide for making something — it's a design or pattern that can be followed. Want to build the best tree house ever? Draw up a blueprint and follow the design carefully.

The literal meaning of a blueprint is a paper — which is blue — with plans for a building printed on it. You can also call other guides or plans blueprints. The way you do your homework every night could provide a blueprint for your little sister’s study habits. A business plan is a blueprint for a profitable business. Religions and philosophies provide the blueprint for many people’s lives. A blueprint helps you figure out what to do.

Definitions of blueprint

1. noun

   something intended as a guide for making something else
   “a blueprint for a house”

   synonyms: design, pattern

   type of:

   plan, program, programme

   a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
2. noun

   photographic print of plans or technical drawings etc.
   type of:

   exposure, photo, photograph, pic, picture

   a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material
3. verb

   make a blueprint of
   synonyms: draft, draught

   type of:

   design, plan

   make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form