blueprint
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a detailed drawing that shows how to build a house, a machine, or a bridge.
n.a technical drawing or design plan, traditionally a white-on-blue print, used in architecture and engineering.
Simple“The architect showed us the blueprints for our new house.”
In context“The engineering team spent months refining the blueprints for the bridge to ensure it could withstand extreme weather conditions.”
UsageOften used in the plural when referring to a set of construction documents.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a detailed plan or model for how something should be done or how it will work.
n.a detailed strategy or conceptual framework intended to guide future developments or actions.
Simple“The government released a new blueprint for improving the healthcare system.”
In context“The successful pilot project served as a blueprint for the company's nationwide expansion strategy.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to create a detailed plan for a project or a building.
v.to design or map out a detailed operational plan or technical specification.
Simple“The committee spent the afternoon blueprinting the new education policy.”
In context“Before the construction began, the lead engineer carefully blueprinted every phase of the assembly process to avoid costly delays.”
UsageTransitive verb that always takes a direct object.
“Even on our own planet, evolution has produced a wide variety of nervous systems rather than a single blueprint.”
“While she had an entire blueprint for her wonder plastic drawn out, Satheesh was aware of a few challenges she’d need to overcome.”
From blue + print. Introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.