mode

plural modes

1. A particular means of accomplishing something.

   What was the mode of entry?

   1 more example

   An effectual and inexpensive mode of Protecting Wall-Trees from Spring-Frosts.

   1855, Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, volume 9, page 205

   1. especiallyengineeringA state related to signals or vibrations.

      common-mode

      2 more examples

      differential-mode

      normal mode of vibration

   2. electrical engineeringA wave pattern in the electromagnetic field.

      transverse mode

      1 more example

      longitudinal mode

   3. computingOne of various related sets of rules for processing data; more generally, any state of the system associated with certain behaviours.

      In insert mode, characters typed are directly inserted into the buffer.

   4. businessA series of settings on a device used for a specific purpose.

      airplane mode; night mode

      1 more example

      The car was then placed into its Level 2 driving mode, much like you would for the current adaptive cruise control systems.

      2024 May 4, Mat Gallagher, “I tried Mercedes’ new autonomous driving in busy city streets – it's mind-blowing”, in T3

   5. video gamesA variation in gameplay, such as a difficulty level.

      Selfie modes, meanwhile, let you add filters and change characters’ facial expressions, from Link in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker to Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.

      2019 February 25, Jordan Erica Webber, “Point and shoot: what's next for photography in video games?”, in The Guardian

      2 more examples

      Campaign mode (the career mode that includes the notorious Gran Turismo driving school) is off limits while offline. Also unavailable offline: buying new cars, viewing your garage, editing car liveries, and even the "taking photos of fancy cars in exotic scenery" mode.

      2017 October 17, Jonathan M. Gitlin, “Gran Turismo Sport is extremely limited in offline mode”, in Ars Technica

      I've stumbled over gaming's simplest hurdles, been humiliated by the lowliest of enemies and will often go for an easy mode if one's available, and yet I've run through Bloodborne twice without ever really breaking much of a sweat.

      2018 March 6, Martin Robinson, “Dispelling the myths of Bloodborne”, in Eurogamer

   6. grammarA verb form that depends on how its containing clause relates to the speaker’s or writer’s wish, intent, or assertion about reality.

      Synonyms: mood, grammatical mood

   7. human sciencesThat which exists only as a quality of substance.
   8. urban studiestransportA particular means of transportation as a class.

      It makes relatively little difference in mode choice except that some high income people avoid bus trips of 100 miles or more and except for the tendency of upper income people when traveling on business to travel by air.

      1964, John B. Lansing, Dwight M. Blood, Mode Choice in Intercity Travel: A Multivariate Statistical Analysis; a Report to the Under Secretary for Transportation, U.S. Dept. of Commerce

2. A particular state of being, or frame of mind.

   After a series of early setbacks, her political campaign is in crisis mode.

   1 more example

   After being stabbed, he went into survival mode until he got to the hospital.

3. mathematicsThe most frequently occurring value in a distribution.
4. entertainmentOne of several common scales in modern Western music, one of which corresponds to the modern major scale and one to the natural minor scale.
   1. entertainmentOne of several ancient Greek scales.
5. In lace-making, a small decorative piece inserted into a pattern.
   1. businessThe openwork between the solid parts of a pattern.
   2. obsoletebusinessA woman's mantle with a hood.

plural modes

1. Style or fashion; popular trend.

   Her wardrobe is always in mode.

   1 more example

   The dress she wore was no longer a cheap blue serge but a handsome tricolette, richly trimmed according to the prevailing mode.

   1922, Edith Van Dyne, chapter 4, in Mary Louise and Josie O'Gorman