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Noun: pattern  pa-tu(r)n
  1. A perceptual structure
    "a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them";
    - form, shape
     
  2. A customary way of operation or behaviour
    "they changed their dietary pattern";
    - practice
     
  3. A decorative or artistic work
    "the coach had a pattern on the doors";
    - design, figure
     
  4. Something regarded as a normative example
    "the pattern of not naming the main character";
    - convention, normal, rule, formula
     
  5. A model considered worthy of imitation
    "the American constitution has provided a pattern for many republics"
     
  6. Something intended as a guide for making something else
    "a pattern for a skirt";
    - blueprint, design
     
  7. The path that is prescribed for an aeroplane that is preparing to land at an airport
    "the traffic patterns around O'Hare are very crowded"; "they stayed in the pattern until the fog lifted";
    - traffic pattern, approach pattern
     
  8. Graphical representation (in polar or Cartesian coordinates) of the spatial distribution of radiation from an antenna as a function of angle
    - radiation pattern, radiation diagram
Verb: pattern  pa-tu(r)n
  1. Plan or create according to a model or models
    - model
     
  2. Form a pattern
    "These sentences pattern like the ones we studied before"

Derived forms: patterned, patterning, patterns

Type of: activity, agree, check, copy, correspond, decoration, example, exemplar, fit, gibe, good example, graph, graphical record, graphical recording, imitate, itinerary, jibe, marry, marry up, match, model, ornament, ornamentation, path, plan, practice, program [N. Amer], programme [Brit, Cdn], route, simulate, structure, tally

Part of: percept, perception, perceptual experience

Encyclopedia: Pattern