Pattern - Definition

n 1: a perceptual structure; "the composition presents problems
for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must
include not only objects but the spaces between them" [syn:
form, shape, pattern]
2: a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their
practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary
pattern" [syn: practice, pattern]
3: a decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the
doors" [syn: design, pattern, figure]
4: something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of
not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the
exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors" [syn:
convention, normal, pattern, 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
blueprint for a house"; "a pattern for a skirt" [syn:
blueprint, design, pattern]
7: the path that is prescribed for an airplane 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" [syn: traffic pattern, approach pattern,
pattern]
8: graphical representation (in polar or Cartesian coordinates)
of the spatial distribution of radiation from an antenna as a
function of angle [syn: radiation pattern, radiation
diagram, pattern]
v 1: plan or create according to a model or models [syn:
model, pattern]
2: form a pattern; "These sentences pattern like the ones we
studied before"