pattern

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}]

2: a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their

practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their

dietary pattern" [syn: {practice}]

3: a decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on

the doors" [syn: {design}, {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}, {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}]

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}]

v 1: plan or create according to a model or models [syn: {model}]

2: form a pattern; "These sentences pattern like the ones we

studied before"