model
Other forms: models; modelled; modeled
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.
Definitions of model
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a representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)
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synonyms:
simulation
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types:
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figure
a model of a bodily form (especially of a person)
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globe
a sphere on which a map (especially of the earth) is represented
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mock-up
full-scale working model of something built for study or testing or display
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planetarium
an apparatus or model for representing the solar systems
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restoration
a model that represents the landscape of a former geological age or that represents and extinct animal etc.
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roughcast
a rough preliminary model
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diorama
a three-dimensional representation of a scene, in miniature or life-size, with figures and objects set against a background
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celestial globe
a globe that is a spherical model of the heavens
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dummy
a figure representing the human form
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figurehead
figure on the bow of some sailing vessels
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figurine, statuette
a small carved or molded figure
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orrery
planetarium consisting of an apparatus that illustrates the relative positions and motions of bodies in the solar system by rotation and revolution of balls moved by wheelwork; sometimes incorporated in a clock
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marionette, puppet
a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
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snowman
a figure of a person made of packed snow
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type of:
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representation
a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something
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the act of representing something (usually on a smaller scale)
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types:
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simulation
the act of imitating the behavior of some situation or some process by means of something suitably analogous (especially for the purpose of study or personnel training)
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war game
a simulation of a military operation intended to train military commanders or to demonstrate a situation or to test a proposed strategy
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type of:
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representation
an activity that stands as an equivalent of something or results in an equivalent
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simulation
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a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process“the computer program was based on a model of the circulatory and respiratory systems”
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synonyms:
framework, theoretical account
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types:
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computer simulation, simulation
(computer science) the technique of representing the real world by a computer program
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mean sun
a theoretical sun that moves along the celestial equator at a constant speed and completes its annual course in the same amount of time the real sun takes at variable speeds
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Copernican system
(astronomy) Copernicus' astronomical model in which the Earth rotates around the sun
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Ptolemaic system
(astronomy) Ptolemy's model of the universe with the Earth at the center
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M-theory
(particle physics) a theory that involves an eleven-dimensional universe in which the weak and strong forces and gravity are unified and to which all the string theories belong
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string theory
(particle physics) a theory that postulates that subatomic particles are one-dimensional strings
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stochastic process
a statistical process involving a number of random variables depending on a variable parameter (which is usually time)
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Markoff process, Markov process
a simple stochastic process in which the distribution of future states depends only on the present state and not on how it arrived in the present state
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random walk
a stochastic process consisting of a sequence of changes each of whose characteristics (as magnitude or direction) is determined by chance
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stationary stochastic process
a stochastic process in which the distribution of the random variables is the same for any value of the variable parameter
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type of:
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hypothesis, possibility, theory
a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
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a representative form or pattern
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synonyms:
example
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types:
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loadstar, lodestar
something that serves as a model or guide
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epitome, image, paradigm, prototype
a standard or typical example
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holotype, type specimen
the original specimen from which the description of a new species is made
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microcosm
a miniature model of something
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archetype, original, pilot
something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies
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guide, template, templet
a model or standard for making comparisons
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prefiguration
an example that prefigures or foreshadows what is to come
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concentrate
a concentrated example of something
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imago
(psychoanalysis) an idealized image of someone (usually a parent) formed in childhood
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rhythm, speech rhythm
the arrangement of spoken words alternating stressed and unstressed elements
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prototype
the first functional model of some new design or product
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type of:
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internal representation, mental representation, representation
a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image
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create a representation or model of
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construct a model of
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form in clay, wax, etc
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plan or create according to a model or models
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a person who poses for a photographer or painter or sculptor“the president didn't have time to be a model so the artist worked from photos”
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synonyms:
poser
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types:
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artist's model, sitter
a person who poses for a painter or sculptor
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dressmaker's model
someone who models dresses
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photographer's model
a model who poses for photographers
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cover girl, lovely, pin-up
a very pretty girl who works as a photographer's model
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a person who wears clothes to display fashions
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synonyms:
fashion model, manakin, manikin, mannequin, mannikin
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types:
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supermodel
a fashion model who has attained the status of a celebrity
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supermodel
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assume a posture as for artistic purposes
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display (clothes) as a mannequin
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something to be imitated“a model of clarity”“he is the very model of a modern major general”
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synonyms:
example, exemplar, good example
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beaut, beauty
an outstanding example of its kind
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pacemaker, pacesetter
a leading instance in its field
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pattern
a model considered worthy of imitation
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prodigy
an impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality
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type of:
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ideal
the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
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someone worthy of imitation“every child needs a role model”
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synonyms:
role model
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types:
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apotheosis, ideal, nonesuch, nonpareil, nonsuch, paragon, saint
model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
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fashion arbiter, taste-maker, trend-setter
someone who popularizes a new fashion
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crackerjack, jimdandy, jimhickey
someone excellent of their kind
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class act
someone who shows impressive and stylish excellence
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humdinger
someone of remarkable excellence
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type of:
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leader
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
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worthy of imitation
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a type of product
Pronunciation
US
/ˈmɑdl/
UK
/ˈmɒdəl/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘model'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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