a perceptual structure; the composition presents problems for students of musical form; a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them
a customary way of operation or behavior; it is their practice to give annual raises; they changed their dietary pattern
[ Syn: practice ]
a decorative or artistic work; the coach had a design on the doors
something regarded as a normative example; the convention of not naming the main character; violence is the rule not the exception; his formula for impressing visitors
[ Syn: convention , normal , rule , formula ]
a model considered worthy of imitation; the American constitution has provided a pattern for many republics'
something intended as a guide for making something else; a blueprint for a house; a pattern for a skirt
the path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport; the traffic patterns around OHare are very crowded; they stayed in the pattern until the fog lifted
[ Syn: traffic pattern , approach pattern ]
graphical representation (in polar or Cartesian coordinates) of the spatial distribution of radiation from an antenna as a function of angle
[ Syn: radiation pattern , radiation diagram ]
pattern (n.)
plan or create according to a model or models
[ Syn: model ]
form a pattern; These sentences pattern like the ones we studied before'