pattern

[ pat-ern; British pat-n ]

noun

1. a decorative design, as for wallpaper, china, or textile fabrics, etc.

   Synonyms: figure

2. decoration or ornament having such a design.
3. a natural or chance marking, configuration, or design:

   patterns of frost on the window.

4. a distinctive style, model, or form:

   a new pattern of army helmet.

   Synonyms: sort, kind

5. a combination of qualities, acts, tendencies, etc., forming a consistent or characteristic arrangement:

   the behavior patterns of teenagers.

6. an original or model considered for or deserving of imitation:

   Our constitution has been a pattern for those of many new republics.

   Synonyms: exemplar, example

7. anything fashioned or designed to serve as a model or guide for something to be made:

   a paper pattern for a dress.

8. a sufficient quantity of material for making a garment.
9. the path of flight established for an aircraft approaching an airport at which it is to land.
10. a diagram of lines transmitted occasionally by a television station to aid in adjusting receiving sets; test pattern.
11. Metallurgy. a model or form, usually of wood or metal, used for giving the shape of the interior of a mold.
12. Numismatics. a coin, either the redesign of an existing piece or the model for a new one, submitted for authorization as a regular issue.
13. an example, instance, sample, or specimen.
14. Gunnery, Aerial Bombing.
    1. the distribution of strikes around a target at which artillery rounds have been fired or on which bombs have been dropped.
    2. a diagram showing such distribution.

verb (used with object)

1. to make or fashion after or according to a pattern.
2. to cover or mark with a pattern.
3. Chiefly British Dialect.
   1. to imitate.
   2. to attempt to match or duplicate.

verb (used without object)

1. to make or fall into a pattern.

pattern

¹

/ ˈpætən /

noun

1. an arrangement of repeated or corresponding parts, decorative motifs, etc

   although the notes seemed random, a careful listener could detect a pattern

2. a decorative design

   a paisley pattern

3. a style

   various patterns of cutlery

4. a plan or diagram used as a guide in making something

   a paper pattern for a dress

5. a standard way of moving, acting, etc

   traffic patterns

6. a model worthy of imitation

   a pattern of kindness

7. a representative sample
8. a wooden or metal shape or model used in a foundry to make a mould
9. 1. the arrangement of marks made in a target by bullets
   2. a diagram displaying such an arrangement

verb

1. often foll byafter or on to model
2. to arrange as or decorate with a pattern

pattern

²

/ ˈpætərn /

noun

1. an outdoor assembly with religious practices, traders' stalls, etc on the feast day of a patron saint

Other Words From

• pattern·a·ble adjective
• patterned adjective
• pattern·er noun
• pattern·less adjective
• pattern·like adjective
• pattern·y adjective
• non·patterned adjective
• re·pattern verb (used with object)
• semi·patterned adjective
• sub·pattern noun
• un·patterned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pattern¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus “model,” special use of Latin patrōnus “legal protector, advocate”; patron

Word History and Origins

Origin of pattern¹

C14 patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus example, from Latin: patron ¹

Origin of pattern²

C18: variant of patron ¹; see pattern ¹

Example Sentences

Then - following a familiar pattern - large-scale holders of the token began selling, causing its price to fall by 96% in just two weeks.

From BBC

Using food photos also allowed the Stevens team to accurately track the exact timing of meals and snacks, and to explore the way that patterns of eating behavior correlated with total energy and nutrient intake.

From Science Daily

Instead of studying cells in a lab dish, the scientists used advanced computer modeling to analyze how molecular networks inside ciliate and mammalian cells respond to different patterns of stimulation.

From Science Daily

The analysis found precipitation patterns -- particularly dry conditions in the 10 days before application or wet conditions 10 days after application -- also affected herbicide effectiveness.

From Science Daily

Continuing in this vein, the researchers are currently working to directly analyze current food trade patterns and the subsequent environmental pressures traded with it, with no diet shifts.

From Science Daily