mode

Etymology 1

From Old French mode (masculine), from Latin modus (“measure, due measure, rhythm, melody”). Doublet of modus.

noun

1. (music) One of several ancient Greek scales.
2. (music) One of several common scales in modern Western music, one of which corresponds to the modern major scale and one to the natural minor scale.
3. A particular means of accomplishing something.
   What was the mode of entry?
   An effectual and inexpensive mode of Protecting Wall-Trees from Spring-Frosts. 1855, Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, volume 9, page 205
4. A particular state of being, or frame of mind.
   After a series of early setbacks, her political campaign is in crisis mode.
   After being stabbed, he went into survival mode until he got to the hospital.
5. (statistics) The most frequently occurring value in a distribution.
6. (mathematics, physics) A state of a system that is represented by an eigenfunction of that system.
7. (computing) One of various related sets of rules for processing data; more generally, any state of the system associated with certain behaviours.
   In insert mode, characters typed are directly inserted into the buffer.
8. (electronics) A series of settings on a device used for a specific purpose.
   airplane mode; night mode
9. (video games) A variation in gameplay, such as a difficulty level.
   Campaign mode (the career mode that includes the notorious Gran Turismo driving school) is off limits while offline. Also unavailable offline: buying new cars, viewing your garage, editing car liveries, and even the "taking photos of fancy cars in exotic scenery" mode. October 17, 2017, Jonathan M. Gitlin, “Gran Turismo Sport is extremely limited in offline mode”, in Ars Technica
   I've stumbled over gaming's simplest hurdles, been humiliated by the lowliest of enemies and will often go for an easy mode if one's available, and yet I've run through Bloodborne twice without ever really breaking much of a sweat. March 6 2018, Martin Robinson, “Dispelling the myths of Bloodborne”, in Eurogamer
   Selfie modes, meanwhile, let you add filters and change characters’ facial expressions, from Link in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker to Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2. Feb 25 2019, Jordan Erica Webber, “Point and shoot: what's next for photography in video games?”, in The Guardian
10. (grammar) A verb form that depends on how its containing clause relates to the speaker’s or writer’s wish, intent, or assertion about reality.
11. (philosophy) That which exists only as a quality of substance.
12. (textiles) In lace-making, a small decorative piece inserted into a pattern.
13. (textiles) The openwork between the solid parts of a pattern.
14. (obsolete) A woman's mantle with a hood.

Etymology 2

From French mode f (“fashion, trend”).

noun

1. Style or fashion; popular trend.
   Her wardrobe is always in mode.
   The dress she wore was no longer a cheap blue serge but a handsome tricolette, richly trimmed according to the prevailing mode. 1922, Edith Van Dyne, chapter 4, in Mary Louise and Josie O'Gorman