prototype

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic

n. the original form of something that later versions are based on.

n. an original type, form, or instance that serves as a basis or standard for later stages.

“This 19th-century machine was the prototype for all modern printing presses.”

“Scholars argue that this early manuscript served as the prototype for the various regional versions of the myth found across the continent.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a line of code that tells a computer the name and basic details of a function.

n. a declaration of a function that specifies the name, return type, and parameters, but omits the implementation body.

“You need to define the function prototype at the top of your code.”

“The compiler threw an error because the function call did not match the arguments specified in the prototype.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make a first version of something to test it.

v. to create a preliminary version or model of a product or system.

“We need to prototype the app's interface before we start the actual coding.”

“The startup spent six months prototyping different wing shapes to maximise the drone's flight time.”