proto

P3R1O1T1O1

noun

A prototype of a design.

Similar
early
Less commonScrabble 7
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Meanings

proto1

adjectiveproto (not comparable)
  1. abbreviationclippingnot comparableClipping of prototypical; preceding the proper beginning of something.

    […] he photographed his tenant, the proto male supermodel Matt Collins, for Italian Harper’s Bazaar.

    2007 March 11, Horacio Silva, “Muscle Man”, in New York Times
nounproto (plural protos)

plural protos

  1. informalfashionA prototype of a design.

    […] attending various fabric trade shows across the country and internationally; reviewing protos (prototypes) and strike-offs; approving final designs; and communicating with overseas mills.

    2013, Lisa Springsteel, Becoming a Fashion Designer
  2. informalslanglifestyleA protogen.

Proto2

proper nounProto (plural Protos)

plural Protos

  1. A surname.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveindicating the first or earliest or original

Similar
early
Also see
prootprotogen

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From the prefix proto-.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

troopportotropopoortToporproot
Cite this entry
APA

proto. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proto

MLA

“proto.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proto. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “proto,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proto.

Source: proto on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.