Added 2 October 2026
model
/ˈmɒd.l̩/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about model at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A person who poses as a subject or visual reference for an artist.
Leonardo da Vinci chose a 15th century criminal as a model for Judas in his painting The Last Supper.
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A person who wears and showcases clothing, accessories, or cosmetics to promote or display them to an audience.
The supersize model displayed the latest summer shorts fashion, tactfully representing similarly overweight teenagers.
- A person, usually attractive, who is hired to show items or goods to the public, such as items that are given away as prizes on a TV game show.
adjective
verb
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To create or modify something with the traits of an example.
Many countries have modeled their constitutions on the U.S. Constitution.
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To create from a substance such as clay.
The sculptor modelled the clay into the form of a dolphin.
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To make a miniature model of.
He takes great pride in his skill at modeling airplanes.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)