# model /ˈmɑdəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɒdəl/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/model Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. a small copy noun · CEFR A1 a small physical copy of an object, like a car or a building. For teachers: a three-dimensional representation of an object, typically on a smaller scale than the original. - He spent the weekend building a model of a classic sailing ship. - The architect presented a detailed scale model of the proposed stadium to the city council to illustrate the project's impact on the skyline. ### 2. fashion/art person noun · CEFR A2 a person whose job is to wear clothes or pose for pictures. For teachers: a person employed to display clothes by wearing them or to pose for an artist or photographer. - The model walked down the runway wearing a bright red dress. - The photographer spent hours adjusting the studio lights to capture the model's features against the minimalist backdrop. ### 3. a version of a product noun · CEFR A2 a specific type or version of a product, like a car or phone. For teachers: a particular design or version of a manufactured product. - This is the newest model of the phone, and it has a better camera. - The company discontinued the older model after sales plummeted following the release of a more energy-efficient alternative. ### 4. an example to follow noun · CEFR B1 a person or thing that is a great example for others to copy. For teachers: a person or thing regarded as an excellent example of a particular quality or a standard to be imitated. - The school is a model of good behavior and hard work. - The local clinic has become a model for rural healthcare delivery, with several international delegations visiting to study its efficiency. ### 5. a system or simulation noun · CEFR B2 · Academic a way of describing how something works, often using math or computers. For teachers: a simplified description, especially a mathematical one, of a system or process to assist calculations and predictions. - Scientists use a computer model to predict how the weather will change. - Economists developed a new model to simulate the effects of interest rate hikes on consumer spending across different income brackets. ### 6. biological subject noun · CEFR C1 · Technical an animal or plant used by scientists to study a disease or how the body works. For teachers: an organism or species used in research to study specific biological phenomena or diseases. - Mice are often used as a model to study how new medicines work. - The fruit fly remains a vital genetic model for researchers investigating the fundamental mechanisms of aging and cellular decay. ### 7. to show clothes verb · CEFR B1 to wear clothes to show them to other people as a job. For teachers: to display a garment or accessory by wearing it; to work as a fashion model. - She started to model professionally when she was eighteen years old. - The agency requested that she model the winter collection during the upcoming trade show in Paris. ### 8. to shape or create verb · CEFR B2 to make something out of a soft material like clay. For teachers: to fashion or shape a figure or object from a malleable substance. - The children learned how to model small animals out of clay. - The sculptor spent months modeling the clay prototype before casting the final statue in bronze. ### 9. perfect or exemplary adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal being a perfect example of something. For teachers: serving as a perfect or exemplary pattern to be imitated. - He was a model student who always finished his homework on time. - The city was praised for its model response to the natural disaster, which minimized casualties through clear communication and rapid deployment. ## Examples - He spends his weekends building model airplanes. - The architect presented a detailed scale model of the new library to the city council before construction began. - Scientists developed a mathematical model to predict how the virus might spread through a densely populated urban environment over the next six months. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.