# wireframe

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wireframe
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. website layout

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a simple sketch that shows where buttons, text, and images will go on a website or app page.

For teachers: a low-fidelity visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website or application interface.

- The designer showed us a wireframe of the new homepage to explain the layout.
- Before moving to high-fidelity prototypes, the UX team created a wireframe to map out the user journey and essential interface elements.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun in design and development contexts.

### 2. 3D graphics

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a 3D model that only shows the lines of its shape, looking like it is made of thin wires.

For teachers: a visual model of a three-dimensional object represented by its geometric lines and vertices without surface textures.

- The computer game showed the car as a wireframe before the colors loaded.
- The architect presented the building's wireframe to demonstrate the underlying structural geometry before applying realistic textures and lighting.

### 3. to create a layout

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to draw the basic plan or structure for a website or 3D object.

For teachers: to produce a skeletal representation or structural plan for a digital interface or geometric model.

- We need to wireframe the mobile app before we start writing any code.
- The development team spent the first week wireframing the entire dashboard to ensure the navigation was intuitive for the end user.

Usage: This verb is transitive and typically takes the project or page as its object.

## Examples

- The designer showed us a wireframe of the new homepage.
- Before we start the visual design, we need to approve the wireframe to ensure the user flow makes sense.
- A well-constructed wireframe serves as a blueprint for developers, clarifying the functional requirements of the application before any high-fidelity assets are produced.

---

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.