Etymology From Middle French modelle, from Old Italian modello, from Vulgar Latin *modellus, diminutive form of modulus (“measure, standard”), diminutive of modus (“measure”); see mode, and compare module, modulus, mould, mold.
A person who serves as a human template for artwork or fashion.
Leonardo da Vinci chose a 15th century criminal as a model for Judas in his painting The Last Supper.
The supersize model displayed the latest summer shorts fashion, tactfully representing similarly overweight teenagers.
2
A person, usually attractive, who is hired to show items or goods to the public, such as items that are given away as prizes on a TV game show.
3
A representation of a physical object.
The boy played with a model of a World War II fighter plane.
The biology teacher passed a large plastic model of the atomic structure of DNA around the classroom.
2 more examples
I had my father’s signet in my purse, / Which was the model of that Danish seal.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
You have here the models of ſeveral ancient Temples, though the Temples themſelves, and the Gods that vvere vvorſhipped in them, are periſhed many hundred years ago.a. 1720 (date written), [Joseph Addison], “Dialogue I”, in Dialogues upon the Usefulness of Ancient Medals. […], [London]: [s.n.], published 1726, →OCLC, page 23:
4
A simulation used to analyze the workings of a real world system or event.
machine learning model
The computer weather model did not correctly predict the path of the hurricane.
2 more examples
The trouble is, all those well-intentioned scientists who are arguing that we’re not in any imminent danger are basing their arguments on computer models. I’m basing mine on what’s actually happening.2007 November 1, Jeff Goodell, quoting James Lovelock, “James Lovelock, the Prophet”, in Rolling Stone:
The fourth model is called the enlightment model: Actors are seen to be responsible for problems but unable or unwilling to provide solutions. They are believed to need discipline provided by authoritative guidance. The Alcoholic Anonymous^([sic]) groups are considered prototypical for this model.2013 June 29, Leo Montada, “Coping with Life Stress”, in Herman Steensma, Riël Vermunt, editors, Social Justice in Human Relations Volume 2: Societal and Psychological Consequences of Justice and Injustice, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 26:
5
A style, type, or design.
we service all makes and models
He decided to buy the turbo engine model of the sports car.
2 more examples
This year’s model features four doors instead of two.
Q: What make and model of car do you drive? A: It’s a Buick LaCrosse.
6
The structural design of a complex system.
The team developed a sound business model.
7
A successful example to be copied, with or without modifications.
Near-synonym: (person) role model
He was a model of eloquence and virtue.
3 more examples
British parliamentary democracy was seen as a model for other countries to follow.
Above all, the 48-page timetables of the new service, which have been distributed free at every station in the scheme, are a model to the rest of B.R. For the first time on British Railways, so far as we are aware, a substantial timetable has been produced, not only without a single footnote but also devoid of all wearisome asterisks, stars, letter suffixes and other hieroglyphics.1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is opened”, in Trains Illustrated, page 714:
Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers.[…]Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. Clever financial ploys are what have made billionaires of the industry’s veterans. “Operational improvement” in a portfolio company has often meant little more than promising colossal bonuses to sitting chief executives if they meet ambitious growth targets. That model is still prevalent today.2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:
8
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences An interpretation function which assigns a truth value to each atomic proposition.
9
Human sciences, Logic, Mathematics, Philosophy, Sciences An interpretation which makes a set of sentences true, in which case that interpretation is called a model of that set.
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Biology, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences An organism or species that is used to study an aspect of physiology or pathophysiology or a particular disease; often, a nonhuman one used to approximate processes in humans.
They studied fasting and glycemia in a mouse model.
They studied Mendelian inheritance in a fruit fly model.
1 more example
They studied plasmid transfer in a mycobacterial model.
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Any copy, or resemblance, more or less exact.
Thou seest thy wretched brother die, / Who was the model of thy father's life.1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
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Architecture, Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences, Software In software applications using the model-view-controller design pattern, the part or parts of the application that manage the data.
Etymology From Middle French modelle, from Old Italian modello, from Vulgar Latin *modellus, diminutive form of modulus (“measure, standard”), diminutive of modus (“measure”); see mode, and compare module, modulus, mould, mold.
1
Worthy of being a model; exemplary.
[...] from the land of your origin, because you demand the claims of those who believe it more model than yours, [...]1898, John Thorburn, The St. Andrew's Society of Ottawa: 1846-1897 : sketch, page 40:
Methods of game-preservation in their extensive and well-stocked hunting-grounds were as model as the huntsmanlike management of the hunts.1932, Nora Fugger, translated by James Austin Galaston, The Glory of the Habsburgs: the Memoirs of Princess Fugger, page 35:
4 more examples
[...] and we press with special severity on one small country whose agriculture is as model as is her way of rural life.1934, Charles Ryle Fay, Imperial economy and its place in the formation of economic doctrine, 1600-1932, page 143:
True, it is an untidy county; the farmhouses are much more model than the farms (when we reach Antrim we shall find that the farms are more model than the farmhouses).1956, Stephen Rynne, All Ireland, page 54:
At our approach the animals made so much noise that the owners of the hut peered round the door to see what was the matter; outwardly rather less model than the farm, there appeared two ancient Basques, emblematically black-bereted, gnarled [...]1961, Blackwood's Magazine, volume 289, page 525:
But not all the exchanges were as model as the sergeant. Some of the exchangees showed a rigidity and reluctance to adapt.1968, American County Government, volume 33, page 19:
model
verb
Etymology From Middle French modelle, from Old Italian modello, from Vulgar Latin *modellus, diminutive form of modulus (“measure, standard”), diminutive of modus (“measure”); see mode, and compare module, modulus, mould, mold.
1
To display an item on one's body for others to see the potential effect on their own bodies, especially in regard to wearing clothing while performing the role of a fashion model.
She modelled the shoes for her friends to appreciate.
2
To devise a model of (some original), especially to better understand or forecast the original.
They modelled weather patterns using a computer.
What passenger growth might be achieved by this can be modelled, but experience shows that in the post-COVID environment, accurate modelling is exceptionally difficult.2023 June 28, Mel Holley, “A true transport trailblazer?”, in RAIL, number 986, page 34:
3
To make a miniature model of.
He takes great pride in his skill at modeling airplanes.
4
To create from a substance such as clay.
The sculptor modelled the clay into the form of a dolphin.
5
To make a model or models.
6
To work as a model in art or fashion.
The actress used to model before being discovered by Hollywood.