MODEL (modelled, modelling)

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does model mean? 

• MODEL (noun)
  The noun MODEL has 9 senses:

1. a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
2. a type of product
3. a person who poses for a photographer or painter or sculptor
4. representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)
5. something to be imitated
6. someone worthy of imitation
7. a representative form or pattern
8. a woman who wears clothes to display fashions
9. the act of representing something (usually on a smaller scale)

  Familiarity information: MODEL used as a noun is familiar.

• MODEL (adjective)
  The adjective MODEL has 1 sense:

1. worthy of imitation

  Familiarity information: MODEL used as an adjective is very rare.

• MODEL (verb)
  The verb MODEL has 6 senses:

1. plan or create according to a model or models
2. form in clay, wax, etc
3. assume a posture as for artistic purposes
4. display (clothes) as a mannequin
5. create a representation or model of
6. construct a model of

  Familiarity information: MODEL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MODEL (noun)

Sense 1

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A hypothetical description of a complex entity or process

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

framework; model; theoretical account

Context example:

the computer program was based on a model of the circulatory and respiratory systems

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

hypothesis; possibility; theory (a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

stochastic process (a statistical process involving a number of random variables depending on a variable parameter (which is usually time))

string theory ((cosmology) a theory that postulates that subatomic particles are one-dimensional strings)

M-theory ((cosmology) 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)

Ptolemaic system ((astronomy) Ptolemy's model of the universe with the Earth at the center)

Copernican system ((astronomy) Copernicus' astronomical model in which the Earth rotates around the sun)

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)

computer simulation; simulation ((computer science) the technique of representing the real world by a computer program)

Sense 2

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A type of product

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

his car was an old model

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

form; kind; sort; variety (a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality)

Sense 3

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A person who poses for a photographer or painter or sculptor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

poser; model

Context example:

the president didn't have time to be a model so the artist worked from photos

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

assistant; help; helper; supporter (a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

artist's model; sitter (a person who poses for a painter or sculptor)

dressmaker's model (someone who models dresses)

photographer's model (a model who poses for photographers)

Sense 4

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Representation of something (sometimes on a smaller scale)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

simulation; model

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

representation (a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

roughcast (a rough preliminary model)

restoration (a model that represents the landscape of a former geological age or that represents and extinct animal etc.)

planetarium (an apparatus or model for representing the solar systems)

mock-up (full-scale working model of something built for study or testing or display)

globe (a sphere on which a map (especially of the earth) is represented)

figure (a model of a bodily form (especially of a person))

Sense 5

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Something to be imitated

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

good example; exemplar; example; model

Context examples:

an exemplar of success / a model of clarity / he is the very model of a modern major general

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

ideal (the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

prodigy (an impressive or wonderful example of a particular quality)

pattern (a model considered worthy of imitation)

pacemaker; pacesetter (a leading instance in its field)

beaut; beauty (an outstanding example of its kind)

Sense 6

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Someone worthy of imitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

role model; model

Context example:

every child needs a role model

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

leader (a person who rules or guides or inspires others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

apotheosis; ideal; nonesuch; nonpareil; nonsuch; paragon; saint (model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal)

fashion arbiter; taste-maker; trend-setter (someone who popularizes a new fashion)

Sense 7

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A representative form or pattern

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

example; model

Context example:

I profited from his example

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

internal representation; mental representation; representation (a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

loadstar; lodestar (something that serves as a model or guide)

epitome; image; paradigm; prototype (a standard or typical example)

holotype; type specimen (the original specimen from which the description of a new species is made)

microcosm (a miniature model of something)

archetype; original; pilot (an original model on which something is patterned)

guide; template; templet (a model or standard for making comparisons)

prefiguration (an example that prefigures or foreshadows what is to come)

Sense 8

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A woman who wears clothes to display fashions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

fashion model; manakin; mannequin; manikin; mannikin; model

Context example:

she was too fat to be a mannequin

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

assistant; help; helper; supporter (a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

supermodel (a fashion model who has attained the status of a celebrity)

Sense 9

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of representing something (usually on a smaller scale)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

modelling; modeling; model

Hypernyms ("model" is a kind of...):

representation (an activity that stands as an equivalent of something or results in an equivalent)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "model"):

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))

• MODEL (adjective)

Sense 1

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Worthy of imitation

Synonyms:

exemplary; model

Context examples:

exemplary behavior / model citizens

Similar:

worthy (having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable)

• MODEL (verb)

Sense 1

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Plan or create according to a model or models

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

model; pattern

Hypernyms (to "model" is one way to...):

copy; imitate; simulate (reproduce someone's behavior or looks)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "model"):

scale (pattern, make, regulate, set, measure, or estimate according to some rate or standard)

sovietise; sovietize (model a country's social, political, and economic structure on the Soviet Union)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Form in clay, wax, etc

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

mould; mold; model

Context example:

model a head with clay

Hypernyms (to "model" is one way to...):

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work (make something, usually for a specific function)

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he model his major works over a short period of time?

Sense 3

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Assume a posture as for artistic purposes

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

posture; pose; model; sit

Context example:

We don't know the woman who posed for Leonardo so often

Hypernyms (to "model" is one way to...):

display; exhibit; expose (to show, make visible or apparent)

Domain category:

art; artistic creation; artistic production (the creation of beautiful or significant things)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "model"):

ramp (be rampant)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 4

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Display (clothes) as a mannequin

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

model the latest fashion

Hypernyms (to "model" is one way to...):

display; exhibit; expose (to show, make visible or apparent)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They model the cape

Sense 5

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Create a representation or model of

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

simulate; model

Context example:

The pilots are trained in conditions simulating high-altitude flights

Hypernyms (to "model" is one way to...):

re-create (create anew)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 6

model [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Construct a model of

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

mock up; model

Context example:

model an airplane

Hypernyms (to "model" is one way to...):

interpret; represent (create an image or likeness of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something