pattern

plural patterns

1. Model, example.
   1. Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.First known use 14th c.

      Synonyms: original, stencil, template

2. 1923 June 18, ‘President Wilson’, Time
3. 1923 June 18, ‘President Wilson’, Time: There is no reason why all colleges and universities should be cut to the same pattern.
   1. There is no reason why all colleges and universities should be cut to the same pattern.
4. Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.First known use 15th c.

   The Platonic Socrates was a pattern to subsequent philosophers for many ages.

   1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.16

   2 more examples

   Well! the King of France died pardoning & pitying all those who had tortured his Soul & Body, a great Pattern for us all.

   1793 March 19, Hester Piozzi, Thraliana

   I write this to repeat most earnestly for myself all that she said to you and to let you know how sure I am that you will sooner or later find our cousin John a pattern of truth, sincerity, and goodness, when you will deeply, deeply grieve to have done him (without intending it) so much wrong.

   1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC

5. archaicA copy.First known use 15th c.
6. hobbiesA sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.First known use 16th c.
7. A representative example.First known use 16th c.
8. USThe material needed to make a piece of clothing.First known use 17th c.
9. businessThe paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.
10. artsA full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.

    2 more examples

    From this point those who became pupils went on to a further series of shops, usually commencing with the pattern shop. […] However, some of us did make quite reasonable patterns and had the satisfaction of seeing castings produced from them but, sad to say, many of these efforts were used as firewood after they had left the shop.

    1944 November and December, A Former Pupil, “Some Memories of Crewe Works—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 341

    But instead, the distinctive ironwork and glass platform awnings have been carefully refurbished, while making them compatible with the overhead wiring. Kettering's island Platform 2/3 is especially noteworthy. Although it dates from 1879, when the station was enlarged to four platforms, the same original (1857) patterns for the delicate cast-ironwork seem to have been used - […].

    2022 December 14, Robin Leleux, “A royal occasion as heritage projects honoured: Kettering”, in RAIL, number 972, page 56

11. computingA text string containing wildcards, used for matching.

    There were no files matching the pattern *.txt.

12. in compoundscomputingA design pattern.

    Synonyms: 3

13. Coherent or decorative arrangement.
    1. A design, motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements.First known use 16th c.

       The wallpaper had a floral pattern.

       1 more example

       On my way to work the other day, I stopped at a church in Rome and saw a painting of the Madonna. The subtle pattern of blues and golds in the embroidery of her dress was so amazing that I used it to design a new evening dress for my haute couture.

       2003, Valentino, ‘Is there a future in fashion's past?’, Time, 5 Feb 2003

       Synonyms: tessellation

    2. A naturally-occurring or random arrangement of shapes, colours etc. which have a regular or decorative effect.First known use 19th c.

       He lifted the entire joint or fowl up into the air, speared on a carving fork, and sliced pieces off it so that they fell on the plate below in perfectly organised patterns.

       2011 June 19, Rachel Cooke, The Observer

    3. The given spread, range etc. of shot fired from a gun.First known use 19th c.
    4. A particular sequence of events, facts etc. which can be understood, used to predict the future, or seen to have a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship.First known use 19th c.

       follow a pattern

       4 more examples

       There’s a clear pattern of behavior emerging.

       pattern of growth

       The three killings pointed to an ugly new shift in the enduring pattern of violence in Northern Ireland: the mostly Protestant Ulster police, or those suspected of affiliation with them, have become more prominent targets for the I.R.A. than the British troops.

       1980 October 6, ‘Shifting Targets’, Time

       Look again at how the US and its allies behaved then, and the pattern is unmistakable.

       2003 August 14, Kate Hudson, The Guardian

    5. human sciencesAn intelligible arrangement in a given area of language.
    6. computingA sequence of notes, percussion etc. in a tracker module, usable once or many times within the song.

       Pattern 10 is open in figure 3.9, showing the 64 notes in the pattern (each pattern in this song has 64 beats).

       2008, Karen Collins, Game Sound, page 59

       1 more example

       A MOD file contains a number of short audio samples, and instructions or a “pattern” for how and when those samples are to be played.

       2017, Gerard Goggin, Mark McLelland, The Routledge Companion to Global Internet Histories, page 444

    7. cellular automataA configuration of cells in a cellular automaton universe.

       The state of the pattern after 1.25 * 10^12 generations is here:

       2010 March 20, Adam Goucher, “What is CA for?”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet)

       2 more examples

       For example, at one point it claims that in order to view a pattern capable of reproduction and evolution, one would need a computer with a screen the size of the solar system, and the pattern would be so sparse anyway as to be almost unobservable.

       1989 May 6, Alan Hensel, “Looking for Life Newsletter”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet)

       The isotropy means all patterns behave the same regardless of orientation in space, they can be flipped or rotated without changing their behavior.

       2022 February 11, Mateon1, “Game of Life with real 8 neighbors”, in comp.theory.cell-automata (Usenet)

    8. Multicultural London EnglishAny arrangement or agreement, or way of conducting business.

       I got so much of it, my cousins think I've got a pattern with Celine And that I'm lyin', when I say that I do no get it for free

       2023 June 18, “100mph Freestyle x3”, Clavish (lyrics), 2:44

14. SingaporeinformalA wont or habit to cause an annoyance or bother; to stir up trouble

    This guy always chut pattern like badminton.

15. IrelandCatholicismThe devotions that take place within a parish on the feast day of the patron saint of that parish.

present singular third person patterns · participle present patterning · participle past patterned · past patterned

1. To apply a pattern.
2. To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

   [A temple] patterned […] from that which Adam reared in Paradise.

   1634, T[homas] H[erbert], A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC

3. To follow an example.

   Under his system, patterned after the French, the army corps became a more mobile, flexible command.

   1998, John B. Wilson, The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades

4. To fit into a pattern.

   Although there is no direct evidence for the identification of *θi as a genuine prefix in this word, it patterns well with the other discussed instances of *θi- both morphologically and semantically.

   2025, Cid Swanenvleugel, The Pre-Roman Elements of the Sardinian Lexicon, page 198

5. transitiveTo serve as an example for.
6. transitivehobbiesTo observe an animal closely over time in order to discern its habitual movements and behaviours.
7. Multicultural London EnglishTo arrange, to organise, to fix.

   MALACHI: Are you two fucking mad? Listen, you need to pattern up, you know?

   2022 June 2, Gabrielle Wood, 21:20 from the start, in Teddy Nygh, director, PRU (1), episode 2 (TV), spoken by Malachi (Billy Myagi)

   1. Multicultural London EnglishTo assault.

      Pattern gang, who they patterning? Pull up, skrr, have them panicking.

      2017 November 1, “No Hook”, performed by CGM

      2 more examples

      Batteries already included, man just shoot it. Trying to pattern your bruces (all of them).

      2020 October 31, “The Rule of Six” (track 2), in Day of the Dead, performed by Block 6

      YS just crashed that corn and I swear man's eardrum started rattling (Mad ting). Touch jail when the gang starts patterning.

      2021, “Gang Bus (Original)”, performed by S13(CGE)

   2. Multicultural London EnglishTo teach someone a lesson.

      Slap him up to pattern him.

      2024 January 18, “Switch”, performed by Rvchet

      3 more examples

      The system can't pattern me out or pattern me down, I'll pattern these clowns. They tried block my path, I built my own. Ya dun know, better start patterning now.

      2015 December 25, “BlukuByeByeBye” (track 3), in Rap vs Grime, performed by Chip

      Let me pattern these boys on time.

      2021 June 25, “Twx Txne”, performed by Scarlxrd

      And I can't lie, I'm really disgusted. I gave 'em my swag, they ain't doing it right. Ima pattern these kids like Ofsted (Chyeah).

      2022, “R U Dumb”, performed by Lancey Foux

   3. Multicultural London EnglishTo have sex with.

      Pretty girls wanna beat, wanna pattern.

      2019, “Yapping (Cheating on wifey demo)”, performed by Krept & Konan

      4 more examples

      My gal so fine, pattern her. Sorry, little nigga, better pattern up.

      2019 June 20, “Persian”, performed by ZieZie

      Don't do dates and I don't like coffee. If she's a 10 I'll pattern her properly.

      2021 June 7, “Council Boy”, performed by Alista Marq

      I see it, I want it, I click it. Nights in the bando, Pyrex whippin'. Pattern your bitch 'cause she's likin' my pictures.

      2021 August 17, “London Scammer”, performed by Tanks & Tarm

      I call her the passionate topper. I book out the suite and she pattern me proper.

      2023 October 19, “On a flight” (track 10), in Ticket To The Moon, performed by Nafe Smallz

   4. Multicultural London EnglishTo arrange the sale or supply of something, especially illegal drugs.

      You know man's patterned, man's still slanging. Pack just vanished, all raw, no magic.

      2019 June 21, “Maddest of the Maddest Remix”, performed by Burner

      2 more examples

      Bro thinks I'm booky, cah I ain't tryna sell him shit. Gotta peb this brick, on the next one I'll pattern him.

      2020 February 20, “Before The Lick”, performed by Kenzo Str8drop

      Twenty pound each for the laces but Tae can pattern me three for fifty. Step with my chain out, everyone shifty.

      2023 October 19, “Top 2” (track 13), in Chapter 16, performed by Clavish

   5. Multicultural London EnglishTo do or perform an activity

      My girl wanna pattern her hair and nails. So I took her down to Camberwell.

      2021 June 30, “Rumba”, performed by Jordy Mankoto

      2 more examples

      Oh, you mad? Then come at me, you prick. Make a move, better pattern it quick.

      2019 March 1, “Venom” (track 5), in GREY Area (Japan exclusive), performed by Little Simz

      Me and bro tryna pattern this grow. We ain't editin' pictures but I'm still croppin'.

      2019 March 22, “Mosh Pit” (track 10), in Drillers x Trappers II, performed by OFB

1. not comparableOf or in accordance with a usual pattern, or type; model; ideal.

   "Not to me," interrupted his sister. "I will have no straw-bonneted, gingham-gowned pattern wives in my acquaintance. I shall make a point of cutting you."

   1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter I, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, pages 168-169

   1 more example

   The parish duty was better attended to, and perhaps domestic duties also. At such period he was a pattern parson and a pattern husband, atoning to his own conscience for past shortcomings by present zeal.

   1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage