plural models
1
: a usually miniature representation of something
a plastic model of the human heart
also
: a pattern of something to be made
2
a
: a type or design of product (such as a car)
offers eight new models for next year, including a completely restyled convertible
I traded in my phone for a newer model.
b
: a type or design of clothing
… girls, self-conscious in their Paris models …—Paul Bowles
3
a
mathematics
: a system of postulates, data, and inferences presented as a mathematical description of an entity or state of affairs
b
computers
(1)
: an artificial intelligence tool or system whose specific behavioral rules, patterns, and capabilities are developed by machine learning typically with some human training input
… the evolving capacities of models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude …—John Cassidy
… the large language models that power OpenAI applications, including the GPT family of models.—Trevor Jennewine
The costs of using A.I. models have soared as they have become more powerful and consume more tokens. … While there are cheaper models, many employees have fallen into the habit of using the most powerful models for everything, Mr. [Rob] May said.—Eli Tan
also, technical
: the set of rules and patterns that guides the behavior of an artificial intelligence tool or system
The current batch of improvements are to the chatbot's conversational AI capabilities and to its underlying model, which has just had its first major upgrade since implementation. —Ry Crozier
… adjusting the model's probabilities to favor preferred answers while penalizing rejected ones. —Julian Horsey
see also language model, large language model
(2)
: a simulation (see simulation sense 3a) based on a mathematical model
an economic model
climate models
4
5
: an example for imitation or emulation
a city that is a model of safety and cleanliness
His written addresses are models of clearness, logical order, and style.—A. B. Noble
6
: one who is employed to display clothes or other merchandise
a fashion model
7
: a person or thing that serves as a pattern for an artist
especially
: one who poses for an artist
the model who sat/posed for many of his paintings
8
: version sense 2
an experimental model of a bionic arm
9
: a description or analogy used to help visualize something (such as an atom) that cannot be directly observed
10
: structural design
a home on the model of an old farmhouse
11
: an organism whose appearance a mimic imitates
12
14
obsolete
: a set of plans for a building
modeled or modelled; modeling or modelling
ˈmäd-liŋ,
ˈmä-dᵊl-iŋ
1
: to construct or fashion in imitation of a particular model
modeled its constitution on that of the U.S.
modeled his most popular dish on his grandmother's recipe
2
a
: to shape or fashion in a plastic material
modeling figures from clay
b
: to produce a representation or simulation (see simulation sense 3a) of
using a computer to model a problem
3
: to display by wearing, using, or posing with
modeled gowns
4
: to plan or form after a pattern : shape
legislative institutions primarily modeled on the English pattern
5
archaic
: to make into an organization (such as an army, government, or parish)
1
: to work or act as a fashion or art model
models for a famous designer
modeled for many of the artist's works
2
: to design or imitate forms : make a pattern
The students are modeling in clay.
1
: serving as or capable of serving as a pattern
a model student
2
: being a usually miniature representation of something
a model airplane
Cite this Entry
“Model.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/model. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.
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