Pattern

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pat=tern

CIDE DICTIONARY

Pattern, n. [OE. patron, F. patron, a patron, also, a pattern. See Patron.].

•  Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will be the pattern of all patience."  [1913 Webster]
•  A part showing the figure or quality of the whole; a specimen; a sample; an example; an instance.  [1913 Webster]

  "He compares the pattern with the whole piece."  [1913 Webster]
•  Stuff sufficient for a garment; as, a dress pattern.  [1913 Webster]
•  Figure or style of decoration; design; as, wall paper of a beautiful pattern.  [1913 Webster]
•  Something made after a model; a copy.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "The patterns of things in the heavens."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything cut or formed to serve as a guide to cutting or forming objects; as, a dressmaker's pattern.  [1913 Webster]
•  A full-sized model around which a mold 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 mold without injuring it.  [1913 Webster]
•  a recognizable characteristic relationship or set of relationships between the members of any set of objects or actions, or the properties of the members; also, the set having a definable relationship between its members.  [PJC]

  " Various collections of objects or markings are spoken of as a pattern. Thus: the distribution of bomb or shell impacts on a target area, or of bullet holes in a target; a set of traits or actions that appear to be consistent throughout the members of a group or over time within a group, as behavioral pattern, traffic pattern, dress pattern; the wave pattern for a spoken word; the pattern of intensities in a spectrum; a grammatical pattern."  [PJC]
•  A diagram showing the distribution of the pellets of a shotgun on a vertical target perpendicular to the plane of fire.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  the recommended flight path for an airplane to follow as it approaches an airport for a landing. Same as landing pattern.  [PJC]
•  an image or diagram containing lines, usually horizontal, vertical, and diagonal, sometimes of varying widths, used to test the resolution of an optical instrument or the accuracy of reproduction of image copying or transmission equipment. Same as test pattern.  [PJC]

pattern box, pattern chain, or pattern cylinder (Figure Weaving), devices, in a loom, for presenting several shuttles to the picker in the proper succession for forming the figure. -- Pattern card. (a) A set of samples on a card. (b) (Weaving) One of the perforated cards in a Jacquard apparatus. -- Pattern reader, one who arranges textile patterns. -- Pattern wheel (Horology), a count-wheel.

Pattern, v. t. 

•  To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "[A temple] patterned from that which Adam reared in Paradise."  [1913 Webster]
•  To serve as an example for; also, to parallel.  [1913 Webster]

To pattern after, to imitate; to follow.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Pattern, n. & v.
--n.
1 a repeated decorative design on wallpaper, cloth, a carpet, etc.
2 a regular or logical form, order, or arrangement of parts (behaviour pattern; the pattern of one's daily life).
3 a model or design, e.g. of a garment, from which copies can be made.
4 an example of excellence; an ideal; a model (a pattern of elegance).
5 a wooden or metal figure from which a mould is made for a casting.
6 a sample (of cloth, wallpaper, etc.).
7 the marks made by shots, bombs, etc. on a target or target area.
8 a random combination of shapes or colours.
--v.tr.
1 (usu. foll. by after, on) model (a thing) on a design etc.
2 decorate with a pattern.

Idiom

pattern bombing bombing over a large area, not on a single target.

Etymology

ME patron (see PATRON): differentiated in sense and spelling since the 16th-17th c.

THESAURUS

Pattern

Geistesgeschichte, Hegelian idea, Kantian idea, Platonic form, Platonic idea, action, actions, activity, acts, address, aesthetic form, affectation, air, anatomy, antetype, antitype, archetype, architectonics, architecture, arrangement, art form, automatism, background, background detail, bad habit, barometer, bearing, beau ideal, behavior, behavior pattern, behavioral norm, behavioral science, biotype, blueprint, brouillon, build, building, canon, canon form, carriage, cartoon, cast, characteristic, chart, check, classic example, complex idea, comportment, composition, conduct, configuration, conformation, consistency, constellation, constitution, construction, copy, creation, creature of habit, criterion, culture pattern, custom, cut, cycle, decorate, decoration, decorative composition, decorative style, degree, delineation, demeanor, deportment, design, detail, device, diagram, doing, doings, draft, drawing, duplicate, ebauche, elevation, emulate, epitome, esquisse, eternal object, eternal universal, example, exemplar, fabric, fabrication, fashion, fashioning, figuration, figure, figure-ground, foil, folkway, follow, force of habit, foreground detail, forging, form, formal cause, format, formation, frame, fugleman, fugler, fugue form, gauge, genotype, genre, gestalt, gestures, getup, goings-on, good example, graduated scale, graph, ground plan, guide, guise, habit, habit pattern, habitude, highest category, history of ideas, house plan, ichnography, ideal, idealism, ideate, ideatum, idee-force, imitate, imitatee, impression, innate idea, inner form, innovation, instance, layout, lead, lied form, maintien, make, makeup, making, man of men, manner, manners, manufacture, matrix, measure, method, methodology, methods, mien, mimic, mirror, modality, mode, model, modus vivendi, mold, molding, motif, motions, motive, mould, movements, moves, national style, new departure, nonpareil, noosphere, norm, noumenon, observable behavior, order, orderliness, organic structure, organism, organization, original, ornament, ornamental motif, outline, paradigm, paragon, parameter, patterning, peculiarity, percept, period style, physique, pilot model, plan, plot, poise, port, pose, posture, practice, praxis, precedent, presence, primary form, procedure, proceeding, production, profile, projection, prototype, quantity, reading, readout, regularity, regulative first principle, repeated figure, repetition, representation, representative, rondo form, rough, rule, sample, scale, second nature, sequence, set, setting, setup, shape, shaping, shining example, significant form, simple idea, simulate, skeleton, sketch, social science, sonata allegro, sonata form, specimen, stamp, standard, stencil, stereotype, stereotyped behavior, structure, structuring, style, subsistent form, symphonic form, system, table, tactics, tectonics, template, test, texture, the Absolute, the Absolute Idea, the Self-determined, the realized ideal, theme, tissue, toccata form, tone, touch, touchstone, transcendent idea, transcendent nonempirical concept, transcendent universal, trick, turn, type, type species, type specimen, universal, universal concept, universal essence, urtext, usage, use, value, warp and woof, way, way of life, ways, weave, web, wont, working drawing, yardstick

ROGET THESAURUS

Pattern

Prototype

N prototype, original, model, pattern, precedent, standard, ideal, reference, scantling, type, archetype, antitype, protoplast, module, exemplar, example, ensample, paradigm, lay-figure, text, copy, design, fugleman, keynote, die, mold, matrix, last, plasm, proplasm, protoplasm, mint, seal, punch, intaglio, negative, stamp, a precedent embalms a principle, exempla sunt odiosa.

Perfection

N perfection, perfectness, indefectibility, impeccancy, impeccability, pink, beau ideal, phenix, paragon, pink of perfection, acme of perfection, ne plus ultra, summit, cygne noir, philosopher's stone, chrysolite, Koh-i-noor, model, standard, pattern, mirror, admirable Crichton, trump, very prince of, masterpiece, superexcellence, transcendence, perfect, faultless, indefective, indeficient, indefectible, immaculate, spotless, impeccable, free from imperfection, unblemished, uninjured, sound, sound as a roach, in perfect condition, scathless, intact, harmless, seaworthy, right as a trivet, in seipso totus teres atque rotundus, consummate, finished, best, model, standard, inimitable, unparagoned, unparalleled, superhuman, divine, beyond all praise, sans peur et sans reproche, to perfection, perfectly, ad unguem, clean, clean as a whistle, let us go on unto perfection, the perfection of art is to conceal art.

Conformity

N conformity, conformance, observance, habituation, naturalization, conventionality, agreement, example, instance, specimen, sample, quotation, exemplification, illustration, case in point, object lesson, elucidation, standard, model, pattern, rule, nature, principle, law, order of things, normal state, natural state, ordinary state, model state, normal condition, natural condition, ordinary condition, model condition, standing dish, standing order, Procrustean law, law of the Medes and Persians, hard and fast rule, conformable to rule, regular, according to regulation, according to rule, according to Hoyle, according to Cocker, according to Gunter, en regle, selon les regles, well regulated, orderly, symmetric, conventional, of daily occurrence, of everyday occurrence, in the natural order of things, ordinary, common, habitual, usual, everyday, workaday, in the order of the day, naturalized, typical, normal, nominal, formal, canonical, orthodox, sound, strict, rigid, positive, uncompromising, Procrustean, secundum artem, shipshape, technical, exempIe, illustrative, in point, conformably, by rule, agreeably to, in conformity with, in accordance with, in keeping with, according to, consistently with, as usual, ad instar, instar omnium, more solito, more-majorum, for the sake of conformity, as a matter of course, of course, pro forma, for form's sake, by the card, invariably, for example, exempli gratia, e, g, inter alia, among other things, for instance, cela va sans dire, ex pede Herculem, noscitur a sociis, ne e quovis ligno Mercurius fiat, they are happy men whose natures sort with their v, The nail that sticks up hammered down, Tall poppy syndrome, Stick your neck out and it may get cut off.

Ornament

N ornament, floridness c, adj, turgidity, turgescence, altiloquence, declamation, teratology, well-rounded periods, elegance, orotundity, inversion, antithesis, alliteration, paronomasia, figurativeness, flourish, flowers of speech, flowers of rhetoric, frills of style, euphuism, euphemism, big-sounding words, high-sounding words, macrology, sesquipedalia verba, Alexandrine, inflation, pretension, rant, bombast, fustian, prose run mad, fine writing, sesquipedality, Minerva press, phrasemonger, euphuist, euphemist, ornament, beautified, ornate, florid, rich, flowery, euphuistic, euphemistic, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, inflated, swelling, tumid, turgid, turgescent, pedantic, pompous, stilted, orotund, high flown, high flowing, sententious, rhetorical, declamatory, grandiose, grandiloquent, magniloquent, altiloquent, sesquipedal, sesquipedalian, Johnsonian, mouthy, bombastic, fustian, frothy, flashy, flaming, antithetical, alliterative, figurative, artificial, ore rutundo, ornament, ornamentation, ornamental art, ornature, ornateness, adornment, decoration, embellishment, architecture, jewelry, garnish, polish, varnish, French polish, veneer, japanning, lacquer, gilding, plating, ormolu, enamel, cloisonn_e, cosmetics (in general), makeup, eye shadow, rouge, face powder, lipstick, blush, pattern, diaper, powdering, paneling, graining, pargeting, detail, repousse (convexity), texture, richness, tracery, molding, fillet, listel, strapwork, coquillage, flourish, fleur-de-lis, arabesque, fret, anthemion, egg and tongue, egg and dart, astragal, zigzag, acanthus, cartouche, pilaster, bead, beading, champleve ware, cloisonne ware, frost work, Moresque, Morisco, tooling, embroidery, brocade, brocatelle, galloon, lace, fringe, trapping, border, edging, trimming, hanging, tapestry, arras, millinery, ermine, drap d'or, wreath, festoon, garland, chaplet, flower, nosegay, bouquet, posy, daisies pied and violets blue, tassel knot, shoulder knot, apaulette, epaulet, aigulet, frog, star, rosette, bow, feather, plume, pompom, panache, aigrette, finery, frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, tinsel, spangle, clinquant, pinchbeck, paste, excess of ornament, gaud, pride, illustration, illumination, vignette, fleuron, head piece, tail piece, cul-de-lampe, flowers of rhetoric, work of art, ornamented, beautified, ornate, rich, gilt, begilt, tesselated, festooned, champleve, cloisonne, topiary, smart, gay, trickly, flowery, glittering, new gilt, new spangled, fine as a Mayday queen, fine as a fivepence, fine as a carrot fresh scraped, pranked out, bedight, well-groomed, in full dress, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, dressed to advantage, in Sunday best, en grand tenue, en grande toilette, in best bib and tucker, endimanche, showy, flashy, gaudy, garish, gairish, gorgeous, ornamental, decorative, becoming.

Good Man

N good man, honest man, worthy, good woman, perfect lady, Madonna, model, paragon, good example, hero, heroine, demigod, seraph, angel, innocent, saint, benefactor, philanthropist, Aristides, noble liver, pattern, brick, trump, gem, jewel, good fellow, prince, diamond in the rough, rough diamond, ugly duckling, salt of the earth, one in ten thousand, one in a million, a gentleman and a scholar, pillar of society, pillar of the community, a man among men, si sic omnes!.

Indication

N indication, symbolism, symbolization, semiology, semiotics, semeiology, semeiotics, Zeitgeist, characteristic, diagnostic, lineament, feature, trait, fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint, cloven hoof, footfall, recognition (memory), diagnostic, divining rod, detector, sign, symbol, index, indice, indicator, point, pointer, exponent, note, token, symptom, dollar sign, dollar mark, type, figure, emblem, cipher, device, representation, epigraph, motto, posy, gesture, gesticulation, pantomime, wink, glance, leer, nod, shrug, beck, touch, nudge, dactylology, dactylonomy, freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology, byplay, dumb show, cue, hint, clue, clew, key, scent, signal, signal post, rocket, blue light, watch fire, watch tower, telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff, cresset, fiery cross, calumet, heliograph, guidon, headlight, mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick, print, imprint, impress, impression, keyboard symbols, printing symbols, red letter, italics, sublineation, underlining, bold font, jotting, note, annotation, reference, blaze, cedilla, guillemets, hachure, quotation marks, ", double quotes, " ", parentheses, "( )", brackets, "", braces, "", left arrow, "<", right arrow, ">", forward slash, "/", backward slash, "\", exclamation point, "!", commercial at, "@", pound sign, "#", percent sign, "%", carat, "", ampersand, "&", asterisk, "*", hyphen, "-", dash, "-", "_", em dash, "--", plus sign, "+", equals sign, "=", question mark, "?", period, ", ", semicolon, ", ", colon, ":", comma, ", ", apostrophe, "'", single quote, "'", tilde, "~", badge, criterion, countercheck, countermark, countersign, counterfoil, duplicate, tally, label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop, dib, totem, tessera, card, bill, witness, voucher, stamp, cacher, trade mark, Hall mark, signature, mark, autograph, autography, attestation, hand, hand writing, sign manual, cipher, seal, sigil, signet, hand and seal, paraph, brand, superscription, indorsement, endorsement, password, watchword, catchword, security card, pass, passkey, credentials, open sesame, timbrology, mot de passe, mot du guet, pass-parole, shibboleth, title, heading, docket, address card, visiting card, carte de visite, insignia, banner, banneret, bannerol, bandrol, flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum, oriflamb, oriflamme, figurehead, ensign, pennon, pennant, pendant, burgee, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack, banderole, old glory, quarantine flag, vexillum, yellow-flag, yellow jack, tricolor, stars and stripes, bunting, heraldry, crest, coat of arms, arms, armorial bearings, hatchment, escutcheon, scutcheon, shield, supporters, livery, uniform, cockade, epaulet, chevron, garland, love knot, favor, beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock, guidepost, handpost, fingerpost, directing post, signpost, pillars of Hercules, pharos, bale-fire, beacon-fire, l'etoile du Nord, landmark, seamark, lighthouse, balize, polestar, loadstar, lodestar, cynosure, guide, address, direction, name, sign, signboard, warning, omen, prefigurement, trace, record, warning &c, alarm, scepter, trophy, gauge, milestone, milepost, brand, fool's cap, check, telltale, test, mileage ticket, milliary, notification, advertisement, word of command, call, bugle call, trumpet call, bell, alarum, cry, battle cry, rallying cry, angelus, reveille, sacring bell, sanctus bell, exposition &c (explanation), proof, pattern, indicating, indicative, indicatory, denotative, connotative, diacritical, representative, typical, symbolic, pantomimic, pathognomonic, symptomatic, characteristic, demonstrative, diagnostic, exponential, emblematic, armorial, individual, known by, recognizable by, indicated, pointed, marked, denotable, indelible, in token of, symbolically, in dumb show, ecce signum, ex ungue leonem, ex pede Herculem, vide ut supra, vultus ariete fortior.