prototype
noun · verb
Simple meaning
An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects, or for its generalizations and models.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
prohtuhtypSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈpɹoʊtətaɪp
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models.
An early sample or model built to test a concept or process.
computing
A declaration of a function that specifies the name, return type, and parameters, but none of the body or actual code.
verb
transitive
To create a prototype of.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- General and technical use
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models.
Used this way, prototype is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use prototype
- “He is the prototype of good breeding.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Declaration
Category
Other combinations
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.