Etimology
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.
noun
model (plural models)
A person who serves as a subject for artwork or fashion, usually in the medium of photography but also for painting or drawing.
A person, usually an attractive male or female, 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.
A representation of a physical object, usually in miniature.
A simplified representation used to explain the workings of a real world system or event.
A style, type, or design.
The structural design of a complex system.
A successful example to be copied, with or without modifications.
(logic) An interpretation function which assigns a truth value to each atomic proposition.
(logic) An interpretation which makes a set of sentences true, in which case that interpretation is called a model of that set.
(medicine) An animal that is used to study a human disease or pathology.
Any copy, or resemblance, more or less exact.
(software architecture) In software applications using the model-view-controller design pattern, the part or parts of the application that manage the data.
Examples
The beautiful model had her face on the cover of almost every fashion magazine imaginable.
The boy played with a model of a World War II fighter plane.
I had my father's signet in my purse, / Which was the model of that Danish seal.
You have here the models of ſeveral ancient Temples, though the Temples themſelves, and the Gods that were worſhipped in them, are periſhed many hundred years ago.
machine learning model
The computer weather model did not correctly predict the path of the hurricane.
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.
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.
He decided to buy the turbo engine model of the sports car.
This year's model features four doors instead of two.
The team developed a sound business model.
He was a model of eloquence and virtue.
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.
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.
Thou seest thy wretched brother die, / Who was the model of thy father's life.
Related words
synonyms
See Thesaurus:model
antonyms
antimodel, see also Thesaurus:jerk
hyponyms
abstract model
animal model
arbitrage pricing model
business model
causal model
commercial model
computer model
database model
data model
delegation-based model
delegation model
Document Object Model
economy model
enterprise architecture model
entity-relationship model
execution model
fashion model
fetish model
fitness model
glamour model
information model
late model
mark to model
mathematical model
mental model
object model
object-relational model
production model
relational model
role model
runway model
scale model
scientific model
view model
V-model
waterfall model
water-line model
related terms
mode
module
adjective
model (not comparable)
Worthy of being a model; exemplary.
Examples
Synonym: ideal
[...] from the land of your origin, because you demand the claims of those who believe it more model than yours, [...]
Methods of game-preservation in their extensive and well-stocked hunting-grounds were as model as the huntsmanlike management of the hunts.
[...] and we press with special severity on one small country whose agriculture is as model as is her way of rural life.
True, it is an untidy county; the farmhouses are much more model than the farms .
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 [...]
But not all the exchanges were as model as the sergeant. Some of the exchangees showed a rigidity and reluctance to adapt.
It is as model as you can get.
While Asians have been perceived as the model minority, it is increasingly clear that some Asian groups are more model than are others, and even within these model groups, a division exists [...]
All were neat and well kept which added to the sense that they were more model than real.
verb
model (third-person singular simple present models, present participle (UK) modelling or (US) modeling, simple past and past participle (UK) modelled or (US) modeled)
(transitive) to display for others to see, especially in regard to wearing clothing while performing the role of a fashion model
(transitive) to use as an object in the creation of a forecast or model
(transitive) to make a miniature model of
(transitive) to create from a substance such as clay
(intransitive) to make a model or models
(intransitive) to work as a model in art or fashion
Examples
She modelled the shoes for her friends to see.
They modelled the data with a computer to analyse the experiment’s results.
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.
He takes great pride in his skill at modeling airplanes.
The sculptor modelled the clay into the form of a dolphin.
The actress used to model before being discovered by Hollywood.
Related words
synonyms
modelise, US modelize