Modeling

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. The act of making a simplified or scaled copy of something ; demonstrating a standard or example to follow ; performing as a person who displays clothing or products professionally
2. Producing a physical or digital representation for study or design purposes ; acting as a guide or exemplar for others ; participating in shows or photo shoots to showcase fashion
3. Constructing a depiction or simulation of an object or concept ; illustrating a concept by example ; working as a professional exhibitor of styles and looks

Etymology: Modeling starts with the Latin "modus," meaning measure, manner or standard, which gave rise to "modulus," a small measure, and then to Vulgar Latin "modellus," a small measure or pattern. Italian shaped this into "modello," and French into "modelle," before English adopted "model." The earlier senses were concrete: a model was a pattern to be copied or a small representation of something larger, such as an architect's scale version of a building. The modern verb sense of building a depiction or simulation grows naturally from that idea of a small, copyable form. Illustrating a concept by example works the same way, since an example serves as a pattern for understanding. The sense of working as a professional displaying clothes and styles is a later extension of the same notion, a living person shown as a pattern for others to follow. The "-ing" ending is the ordinary English suffix that turns the verb "model" into a noun for the activity, so the word is formed simply from the base and its suffix.

Synonyms: shaping, designing, fashioning, creating, molding

Antonyms: destroying, ruining, dismantling, unraveling, deforming