Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

pattern en · ADJ

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈpætɚn/ (General-American)
(Southern-England) audio
[ˈpæɾɚn] (General-American)

Etymology

From earlier patten, paterne, from Middle English patron (“patron; example”), from Old French patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus (“patron”). Doublet of padrone, patron, Patronus, and patroon.

Meanings

(not-comparable) Of or in accordance with a usual pattern, or type; model; ideal.
- The parish duty was better attended to, and perhaps domestic duties also. At such period he was a pattern parson and a pattern husband, atoning to his own conscience for past shortcomings by present zeal. 1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:
- "Not to me," interrupted his sister. "I will have no straw-bonneted, gingham-gowned pattern wives in my acquaintance. I shall make a point of cutting you." 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, pages 168-169:

pattern en · NOUN

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈpætɚn/ (General-American)
(Southern-England) audio
[ˈpæɾɚn] (General-American)

Etymology

Meanings

Model, example. ▸ Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.
- The wallpaper had a floral pattern.
- There is no reason why all colleges and universities should be cut to the same pattern. 1923 June 18, ‘President Wilson’, Time:
Model, example. ▸ Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.
- I write this to repeat most earnestly for myself all that she said to you and to let you know how sure I am that you will sooner or later find our cousin John a pattern of truth, sincerity, and goodness, when you will deeply, deeply grieve to have done him (without intending it) so much wrong. 1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:
- The Platonic Socrates was a pattern to subsequent philosophers for many ages. 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.16:
- Well! the King of France died pardoning & pitying all those who had tortured his Soul & Body, a great Pattern for us all. 1793 March 19, Hester Piozzi, Thraliana:
(archaic) Model, example. ▸ A copy.
Model, example. ▸ A sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.
Model, example. ▸ A representative example.
(US) Model, example. ▸ The material needed to make a piece of clothing.
Model, example. ▸ The paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.
(dated) Model, example. ▸ A full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.
- But instead, the distinctive ironwork and glass platform awnings have been carefully refurbished, while making them compatible with the overhead wiring. Kettering's island Platform 2/3 is especially noteworthy. Although it dates from 1879, when the station was enlarged to four platforms, the same original (1857) patterns for the delicate cast-ironwork seem to have been used - […]. 2022 December 14, Robin Leleux, “A royal occasion as heritage projects honoured: Kettering”, in RAIL, number 972, page 56:
- From this point those who became pupils went on to a further series of shops, usually commencing with the pattern shop. […] However, some of us did make quite reasonable patterns and had the satisfaction of seeing castings produced from them but, sad to say, many of these efforts were used as firewood after they had left the shop. 1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 341:
Model, example. ▸ A text string containing wildcards, used for matching.
- There were no files matching the pattern *.txt.
(in-compounds) Model, example. ▸ A design pattern.
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ A design, motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements.
- On my way to work the other day, I stopped at a church in Rome and saw a painting of the Madonna. The subtle pattern of blues and golds in the embroidery of her dress was so amazing that I used it to design a new evening dress for my haute couture. 2003, Valentino, ‘Is there a future in fashion's past?’, Time, 5 Feb 2003
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ A naturally-occurring or random arrangement of shapes, colours etc. which have a regular or decorative effect.
- He lifted the entire joint or fowl up into the air, speared on a carving fork, and sliced pieces off it so that they fell on the plate below in perfectly organised patterns. 2011 June 19, Rachel Cooke, The Observer:
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ The given spread, range etc. of shot fired from a gun.
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ A particular sequence of events, facts etc. which can be understood, used to predict the future, or seen to have a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship.
- The three killings pointed to an ugly new shift in the enduring pattern of violence in Northern Ireland: the mostly Protestant Ulster police, or those suspected of affiliation with them, have become more prominent targets for the I.R.A. than the British troops. 1980 October 6, ‘Shifting Targets’, Time:
- follow a pattern
- pattern of growth
- Look again at how the US and its allies behaved then, and the pattern is unmistakable. 2003 August 14, Kate Hudson, The Guardian:
- There’s a clear pattern of behavior emerging.
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ An intelligible arrangement in a given area of language.
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ A sequence of notes, percussion etc. in a tracker module, usable once or many times within the song.
- Pattern 10 is open in figure 3.9, showing the 64 notes in the pattern (each pattern in this song has 64 beats). 2008, Karen Collins, Game Sound, page 59:
- A MOD file contains a number of short audio samples, and instructions or a “pattern” for how and when those samples are to be played. 2017, Gerard Goggin, Mark McLelland, The Routledge Companion to Global Internet Histories, page 444:
Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ A configuration of cells in a cellular automaton universe.
- The state of the pattern after 1.25 * 10^12 generations is here: 2010 March 20, Adam Goucher, “What is CA for?”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
- For example, at one point it claims that in order to view a pattern capable of reproduction and evolution, one would need a computer with a screen the size of the solar system, and the pattern would be so sparse anyway as to be almost unobservable. 1989 May 6, Alan Hensel, “Looking for Life Newsletter”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
- The isotropy means all patterns behave the same regardless of orientation in space, they can be flipped or rotated without changing their behavior. 2022 February 11, Mateon1, “Game of Life with real 8 neighbors”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet):
(Multicultural-London-English) Coherent or decorative arrangement. ▸ Any arrangement or agreement, or way of conducting business.
- I got so much of it, my cousins think I've got a pattern with Celine And that I'm lyin', when I say that I do no get it for free 2023 June 18, “100mph Freestyle x3”, Clavish (lyrics), 2:44:
(Singapore, informal) A wont or habit to cause an annoyance or bother; to stir up trouble
- This guy always chut pattern like badminton.
(Ireland) The devotions that take place within a parish on the feast day of the patron saint of that parish.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
patterns	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Antonyms

antipattern

Deriveds

Hyponyms

oscillator · spark · rake · reflector · spacefiller · still life · gun · eater · puffer · Garden of Eden · spaceship · breeder · sawtooth · methuselah · replicator

Synonyms

template · stencil · original · tessellation · 5 (similarity) · 4 (cycle) · 3 (category)

Translations (183)

eo modelo (that from which a copy is made) · fi aihe (motif or decoration) · it schema (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · hu sablon (that from which a copy is made) · be малю́нак (motif or decoration) · bg образе́ц (that from which a copy is made) · be узо́р (that from which a copy is made) · ro motive (motif or decoration) · mk шабло́н (that from which a copy is made) · pt padrão (motif or decoration) · nmn bála (motif or decoration) · mk мостра (that from which a copy is made) · kmr nexş (motif or decoration) · nrf patron (motif or decoration) · uk малю́нок (motif or decoration) · gl modelo (that from which a copy is made) · nl patroon (motif or decoration) · ga pátrún (devotions that take place on the feast day of a patron saint) · nl sjabloon (that from which a copy is made) · ru образе́ц (that from which a copy is made) · km ពុម្ព (that from which a copy is made) · pl deseń (motif or decoration) · fi kuvio (motif or decoration) · eu adibide (that from which a copy is made) · zza munge (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · bg шабло́н (that from which a copy is made) · tl hulwaran (that from which a copy is made) · cmn 模形 (that from which a copy is made) · el υπόδειγμα (that from which a copy is made) · gd pàtran (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · tr patern (motif or decoration) · be рысу́нак (motif or decoration) · es estampado (motif or decoration) · es patrón (that from which a copy is made) · az bəzək (motif or decoration) · ro model (that from which a copy is made) · ru закономе́рность (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · de Muster (that from which a copy is made) · ru шабло́н (that from which a copy is made) · ca mostra (that from which a copy is made) · uk узі́р (that from which a copy is made) · ru схе́ма (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · be мадэ́ль (that from which a copy is made) · ru лека́ло (that from which a copy is made) · fr modèle (that from which a copy is made) · es pauta (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · uk ви́крій (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · cs vzor (that from which a copy is made) · fi kuosi (motif or decoration) · tr şablon (that from which a copy is made) · ca patró (that from which a copy is made) · ru приме́р (that from which a copy is made) · el πρότυπο (that from which a copy is made) · de Struktur (motif or decoration) · sv mall (that from which a copy is made) · bg кройка (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · cmn 模樣 /模样 (that from which a copy is made) · ru моде́ль (that from which a copy is made) · uk взіре́ць (that from which a copy is made) · pt molde (that from which a copy is made) · ja 紋様 (motif or decoration) · sv mönster (that from which a copy is made) · uk трафаре́т (that from which a copy is made) · fa الگو (that from which a copy is made) · lt šablonas (that from which a copy is made) · cs vzor (motif or decoration) · fi alkuperäinen (that from which a copy is made) · cmn 圖案 /图案 (motif or decoration) · it cartamodello (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · ko 모식 (that from which a copy is made) · it trama (motif or decoration) · mk шара (motif or decoration) · kk ою (motif or decoration) · ko 패턴 (that from which a copy is made) · pl wzór (that from which a copy is made) · zza qalıb (that from which a copy is made) · grc παράδειγμα (that from which a copy is made) · mk закономерност (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · fi malli (that from which a copy is made) · ja 型 (that from which a copy is made) · pl blejer (that from which a copy is made) · th กระสวน (that from which a copy is made) · cmn 花樣 /花样 (motif or decoration) · ko 모형 (motif or decoration) · uk лека́ло (that from which a copy is made) · ca model (that from which a copy is made) · be шабло́н (that from which a copy is made) · fi kaava (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · ro uniformitate (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · az naxış (motif or decoration) · it modello (that from which a copy is made) · ro decorațiune (motif or decoration) · ro motiv (motif or decoration) · sv mönster (motif or decoration) · it regolarità (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · ja 模型 (that from which a copy is made) · bg закономерност (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · de Muster (motif or decoration) · sk vzor (that from which a copy is made) · be ляка́ла (that from which a copy is made) · ja パターン (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · fi kuvio (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · be трафарэ́т (that from which a copy is made) · tr örüntü (motif or decoration) · bg моде́л (that from which a copy is made) · ro șablon (that from which a copy is made) · fi originaali (that from which a copy is made) · uk взір (that from which a copy is made) · ja 模様 (motif or decoration) · el μοτίβο (motif or decoration) · km គំរូ (that from which a copy is made) · ar نَمَط (that from which a copy is made) · pl wzór (motif or decoration) · uk узі́р (motif or decoration) · ru рису́нок (motif or decoration) · fr régularité (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · fr schéma (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · tr örüntü (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · ja パターン (that from which a copy is made) · az ülgü (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · be пры́клад (that from which a copy is made) · mi matua (that from which a copy is made) · el πρότυπο (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · ko 모형 (that from which a copy is made) · ko 양식 (that from which a copy is made) · ar عَيِّنَة (that from which a copy is made) · ja 様式 (that from which a copy is made) · ar نُمُوذَج (that from which a copy is made) · uk шабло́н (that from which a copy is made) · es padrón (that from which a copy is made) · de Schablone (that from which a copy is made) · ru узо́р (motif or decoration) · bg десе́н (motif or decoration) · ru моде́ль (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · ru образе́ц (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · uk рису́нок (motif or decoration) · cmn 模式 (that from which a copy is made) · is munstur (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · hu minta (motif or decoration) · ru вы́кройка (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · de Modell (that from which a copy is made) · fi kaavamaisuus (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · uk моде́ль (that from which a copy is made) · is mynstur (motif or decoration) · kk тәсім (that from which a copy is made) · sv mönster (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · ko 패턴 (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · zza sablon (that from which a copy is made) · zza naqış (motif or decoration) · id pola (that from which a copy is made) · pt modelo (that from which a copy is made) · eu eredu (that from which a copy is made) · ja 文様 (motif or decoration) · th ลวดลาย (motif or decoration) · pl wykrój (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · tk ülňi (that from which a copy is made) · fr tendance (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · de Schnittmuster (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · nog оьрнек (motif or decoration) · bg ша́рка (motif or decoration) · eo skemo (motif or decoration) · uk візеру́нок (motif or decoration) · km តំរាប់ (that from which a copy is made) · ko 무늬 (motif or decoration) · yi אוזער (motif or decoration) · mk шема (that from which a copy is made) · eo skemo (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · mk шема (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · la exemplar (that from which a copy is made) · it struttura (motif or decoration) · ru трафаре́т (that from which a copy is made) · fr patron (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · be узо́р (motif or decoration) · uk зразо́к (that from which a copy is made) · it forma (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · cv ӗлкӗ (the paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out) · tr kalıp (that from which a copy is made) · ru па́ттерн (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · cmn 樣式 /样式 (that from which a copy is made) · fr motif (motif or decoration) · gd pàtran (motif or decoration) · ro regularitate (intelligible arrangement which has a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship) · uk при́клад (that from which a copy is made)

wikidata: Q7148360

pattern en · VERB

Pronunciation

(US) audio
/ˈpæ̞t(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈpætɚn/ (General-American)
(Southern-England) audio
[ˈpæɾɚn] (General-American)

Etymology

Meanings

To apply a pattern.
To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.
- [A temple] patterned […] from that which Adam reared in Paradise. 1634, T[homas] H[erbert], A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC:
To follow an example.
- Under his system, patterned after the French, the army corps became a more mobile, flexible command. 1998, John B. Wilson, The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades:
To fit into a pattern.
- Although there is no direct evidence for the identification of *θi as a genuine prefix in this word, it patterns well with the other discussed instances of *θi- both morphologically and semantically. 2025, Cid Swanenvleugel, The Pre-Roman Elements of the Sardinian Lexicon, page 198:
(transitive) To serve as an example for.
(transitive) To observe an animal closely over time in order to discern its habitual movements and behaviours.
(Multicultural-London-English) To arrange, to organise, to fix.
- MALACHI: Are you two fucking mad? Listen, you need to pattern up, you know? 2022 June 2, Gabrielle Wood, 21:20 from the start, in Teddy Nygh, director, PRU (1), episode 2 (TV), spoken by Malachi (Billy Myagi):
(Multicultural-London-English) To arrange, to organise, to fix. ▸ To assault.
- YS just crashed that corn and I swear man's eardrum started rattling (Mad ting). Touch jail when the gang starts patterning. 2021, “Gang Bus (Original)”, performed by S13(CGE):
- Batteries already included, man just shoot it. Trying to pattern your bruces (all of them). 2020 October 31, “The Rule of Six” (track 2), in Day of the Dead, performed by Block 6:
- Pattern gang, who they patterning? Pull up, skrr, have them panicking. 2017 November 1, “No Hook”, performed by CGM:
(Multicultural-London-English) To arrange, to organise, to fix. ▸ To teach someone a lesson.
- And I can't lie, I'm really disgusted. I gave 'em my swag, they ain't doing it right. Ima pattern these kids like Ofsted (Chyeah). 2022, “R U Dumb”, performed by Lancey Foux:
- Slap him up to pattern him. 2024 January 18, “Switch”, performed by Rvchet:
- The system can't pattern me out or pattern me down, I'll pattern these clowns. They tried block my path, I built my own. Ya dun know, better start patterning now. 2015 December 25, “BlukuByeByeBye” (track 3), in Rap vs Grime, performed by Chip:
- Let me pattern these boys on time. 2021 June 25, “Twx Txne”, performed by Scarlxrd:
(Multicultural-London-English) To arrange, to organise, to fix. ▸ To have sex with.
- Don't do dates and I don't like coffee. If she's a 10 I'll pattern her properly. 2021 June 7, “Council Boy”, performed by Alista Marq:
- Pretty girls wanna beat, wanna pattern. 2019, “Yapping (Cheating on wifey demo)”, performed by Krept & Konan:
- I see it, I want it, I click it. Nights in the bando, Pyrex whippin'. Pattern your bitch 'cause she's likin' my pictures. 2021 August 17, “London Scammer”, performed by Tanks & Tarm:
- My gal so fine, pattern her. Sorry, little nigga, better pattern up. 2019 June 20, “Persian”, performed by ZieZie:
- I call her the passionate topper. I book out the suite and she pattern me proper. 2023 October 19, “On a flight” (track 10), in Ticket To The Moon, performed by Nafe Smallz:
(Multicultural-London-English) To arrange, to organise, to fix. ▸ To arrange the sale or supply of something, especially illegal drugs.
- Twenty pound each for the laces but Tae can pattern me three for fifty. Step with my chain out, everyone shifty. 2023 October 19, “Top 2” (track 13), in Chapter 16, performed by Clavish:
- You know man's patterned, man's still slanging. Pack just vanished, all raw, no magic. 2019 June 21, “Maddest of the Maddest Remix”, performed by Burner:
- Bro thinks I'm booky, cah I ain't tryna sell him shit. Gotta peb this brick, on the next one I'll pattern him. 2020 February 20, “Before The Lick”, performed by Kenzo Str8drop:
(Multicultural-London-English) To arrange, to organise, to fix. ▸ To do or perform an activity
- Me and bro tryna pattern this grow. We ain't editin' pictures but I'm still croppin'. 2019 March 22, “Mosh Pit” (track 10), in Drillers x Trappers II, performed by OFB:
- My girl wanna pattern her hair and nails. So I took her down to Camberwell. 2021 June 30, “Rumba”, performed by Jordy Mankoto:
- Oh, you mad? Then come at me, you prick. Make a move, better pattern it quick. 2019 March 1, “Venom” (track 5), in GREY Area (Japan exclusive), performed by Little Simz:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Source
patterns	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic
patterned	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
patterned	Tense=Past	lexicographic
patterning	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic

Synonyms

model · categorize

Translations (4)

de strukturieren (apply a pattern) · es perfilar (apply a pattern) · es estructurar (apply a pattern) · es estampar (apply a pattern)