model

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.

noun

1. A person who serves as a subject for artwork or fashion, usually in the medium of photography but also for painting or drawing.
   The beautiful model had her face on the cover of almost every fashion magazine imaginable.
2. A person, usually an attractive male or female that 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, usually in miniature.
   The boy played with a model of a World War II fighter plane.
4. A simplified representation used to explain 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.
   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. 2007-11-01, 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 groups are considered prototypical for this model. 29 June 2013, 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, page 26
5. A style, type, or design.
   He decided to buy the turbo engine model of the sports car.
   This year's model features four doors instead of two.
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.
   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. 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. 2013-06-22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70
8. (logic) An interpretation function which assigns a truth value to each atomic proposition.
9. (logic) An interpretation which makes a set of sentences true, in which case that interpretation is called a model of that set.
10. (medicine) An animal that is used to study a human disease or pathology.
11. Any copy, or resemblance, more or less exact.
12. (software architecture) In software applications using the model-view-controller design pattern, the part or parts of the application that manage the data.

adj

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
   … 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
   It is as model as you can get. 1999, Michael D. Williams, Acquisition for the 21st century: the F-22 Development Program, page 113
   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 … 2002, Uma Anand Segal, A framework for immigration: Asians in the United States, page 308
   All were neat and well kept which added to the sense that they were more model than real. 2010, Eleanor Coppola, Notes on a Life, page 140

verb

1. (transitive) to display for others to see, especially in regard to wearing clothing while performing the role of a fashion model
   She modelled the shoes for her friends to see.
2. (transitive) to use as an object in the creation of a forecast or model
   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. June 28 2023, Mel Holley, “A true transport trailblazer?”, in RAIL, number 986, page 34
3. (transitive) to make a miniature model of
   He takes great pride in his skill at modeling airplanes.
4. (transitive) to create from a substance such as clay
   The sculptor modelled the clay into the form of a dolphin.
5. (intransitive) to make a model or models
6. (intransitive) to work as a model in art or fashion
   The actress used to model before being discovered by Hollywood.