Agency Dictionary

Prototype

nounPronunciation: /ˈproʊ.təˌtaɪp/

In Portuguese: Protótipo

Design

What does “Prototype” mean?

An early preliminary model of a product from which subsequent forms and manufactured copies are developed and refined.

Etymology

From French prototype or Late Latin prototypon, from Ancient Greek prōtótupos (original, first of its kind), from prōto- (first) and tupos (a blow, an impression, a type). The word named the first or original form from which subsequent copies are made.

Usage note

In design and engineering, a prototype tests function and form before full production. In linguistics and psychology, it also means the most typical representative of a category.

Synonyms

model
original
mock-up
proof of concept
pilot

Word family

prototypical
prototyping

Usage examples

Fast forward in time, Pietro has had the opportunity to work on many inspiring kinds of projects, from agricultural vehicles and a prototype for covid masks to luxurious furniture and even his own collection of products tailor-made by him!

Concept

Materials EngineeringMaterials engineering is an applied scientific discipline that studies, develops, and optimizes the chemical structure, physical properties, and manufacturing behaviors…

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

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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.