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Agency Dictionary

Layout

noun

In Portuguese: Layout

What does “Layout” mean?

The spatial arrangement and structural distribution of text, images, and visual elements on a printed page or digital screen. It establishes visual order, reading flow, and aesthetic harmony within a composition.

Etymology

From the phrasal verb lay out, "to arrange, to spread out, to display". Lay comes from Old English lecgan, "to cause to lie", from Proto-Germanic lagjan. Out comes from Old English ut. The noun layout appeared in the 19th century for an arrangement or plan in general. Its use in printing and publishing, for the arrangement of text and images on a page, followed in the early 20th century.

Usage note

In design and publishing, layout refers to the spatial arrangement of text, images and white space on a page or screen. In manufacturing, it can mean the physical arrangement of machines in a factory.

Synonyms

  • arrangement
  • design
  • format
  • composition
  • plan

Word family

  • lay
  • overlay

Rhymes with

  • payout

Usage examples

Concept

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

recipientnoun
The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
Superfluousadjective
Exceeding what is sufficient, necessary, or useful.
iconnoun
A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
symbolismnoun
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
Desaturationnoun
The progressive loss or removal of chromatic intensity, rendering a color closer to a neutral gray.

Also from these editions: terms

Buttonnoun
A physical or graphical control element that triggers an immediate action or command when pressed or clicked. In software interfaces, buttons communicate system affordances through visual boundaries and labels.
Consumernoun
An individual or group that acquires, purchases, or consumes physical or commercial goods and services for personal use. In marketing, consumers are studied for purchasing patterns and brand preferences.
Astronautnoun
A person trained and equipped to travel and operate beyond the atmosphere of the Earth. In space exploration, astronauts perform scientific experiments and navigate spacecraft under extreme conditions.
Typographynoun
The art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing. It encompasses typeface selection, point size, line spacing, tracking, and spatial kerning.
Screennoun
A flat physical display surface on an electronic device that projects visual images, interfaces, and text to a viewer. It serves as the primary visual output medium for modern personal computers and mobile phones.
wireframenoun
A skeletal visual guide that outlines the basic structure, hierarchy, and functionality of a user interface.
stakeholdernoun
A person or group with an interest in a project or an organization and affected by its results, such as clients, managers, investors or users.
Rendernoun
A finished two-dimensional image or video generated from a three-dimensional mathematical scene by computer software. It synthesizes geometric coordinates, lighting algorithms, textures, and shading into final pixels.
Tangibleadjective
Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
pain pointnoun
A specific problem, difficulty or frustration that a person experiences when using a product or a service, and that design or marketing sets out to solve.
briefingnoun
A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
Mjolnirnoun
In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.

Also from these editions: concepts

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Cite this entry

“Layout”. Agency Wiki, Agency Brasil. Published on November 11, 2026. https://www.agencybrasil.com/en/wiki/dictionary/layout