26984 words

patterns

14 definitions • 29 examples
1
a particular way in which something is done, is organized, or happens:

Examples:

The pattern of family life has been changing over recent years.
A pattern is beginning to emerge from our analysis of the accident data.
Many behaviour(al) patterns have been identified in the chimp colony.
2

Examples:

Look, the frost has made a beautiful pattern on the window.
The curtains had a floral pattern.
3
something that is used as an example, especially to copy:

Examples:

The design is so good it's sure to set the pattern for many others.
4
a drawing or shape used to show how to make something:

Examples:

Cut out all of the pieces from the paper pattern and pin them on the cloth.
5
a small piece of cloth or paper taken from a usual-sized piece and used to show what it looks like:

Examples:

6
used in compounds to refer to the way in which a particular type of hair loss occurs, affecting mainly the top and front of the head:

Examples:

50% of men over age 50 experience some kind of male pattern baldness.
Female-pattern hair loss, which is caused by genetic and hormonal factors, is the most common type of hair loss in women.
7
a particular way in which something is done or organized, or in which something happens:

Examples:

Our weather pattern comes from the northwest.
A whole variety of behavior patterns affect infants.
8

Examples:

A human fingerprint can be viewed as a geometric pattern.
9
A pattern is also a design or set of shapes that show how to make something:

Examples:

10
a particular way in which something usually happens or is done:
11
a way of doing something that other people, organizations, etc. can copy:

Examples:

set the pattern for sth The talks have set the pattern for trying to solve problems within the industry.
12
a situation where there is little activity or change, and people are not doing business, spending money, etc. because they cannot decide what to do next:

Examples:

be in/go into a holding pattern Several deals went into an immediate holding pattern after the crisis.
13
used to describe an agreement based on similar agreements with other companies:

Examples:

a pattern agreement/contract The contract was viewed by bargainers as a pattern agreement to be used in negotiations with the car company.
The traditional pattern bargaining that went on in the auto industry has gone.
14
to be copied from something or to be very similar to something:

Examples:

The facility will employ 150 people and be patterned after the steel fastener facility in Saint Joe, Indiana.

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