prototype
noun
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The prefix prot-, or proto-, comes from Greek and has the basic meaning "first in time" or "first formed." A prototype is someone or something that serves as a model or inspiration for those that come later. A successful fund-raising campaign can serve as a prototype for future campaigns. The legendary Robin Hood, the "prototypical" kindhearted and honorable outlaw, has been the inspiration for countless other romantic heroes. And for over a century, Vincent van Gogh has been the prototype of the brilliant, tortured artist who is unappreciated in his own time.
Synonyms
Examples of prototype in a Sentence
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
After reviewing the three proposals, NASA will issue a second task order to at least one of the finalists, requesting to see their prototype in action on the moon.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Apr. 2024
Wind turbines are becoming a bigger part of the race towards a greener future—but at the same time, the technology is quickly evolving, which raises questions about how emerging turbine prototypes can be tested quickly and efficiently before they’re hooked up to power grids.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Apr. 2024
So Oculus, which is a big name in VR, got into the game in 2010, well, at least that’s when 18 year old Palmer Luckey created the prototype for the Oculus Rift VR headset.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Having languished for decades in a sorry state of disrepair in Long Island settings, the glass and steel box prototype of a bold concept in affordable housing has been rehabilitated with shiny new aluminum sheet cladding.
—John Oseid, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Physicists envision 7 years of research at an annual cost of a few million dollars to determine what kind of demonstration project—perhaps a prototype cooling channel—would best prove a muon collider is feasible, Stratakis says.
—Byadrian Cho, science.org, 28 Mar. 2024
Related article French government orders laser weapon prototype for Paris Olympics
The British are not the first in developing a laser that can shoot down an aerial target.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
Riddle is set to unveil the prototype home during the annual KC Design Week in April, followed by a panel discussion on the housing crisis for Black residents.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prototype.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Prototype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prototype. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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prototype
noun
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