pattern
noun OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈpætn/
/ˈpætərn/
- the regular way in which something happens or is done
- changing patterns of urban life
- We have no way of predicting next year's weather patterns.
- behaviour/sleep/growth patterns
- stress/intonation/speech patterns
- Wages in both sectors have followed a similar pattern.
- The studies show different patterns of distribution.
- The music contains repeated rhythmic patterns.
Extra Examples- Her speech patterns are very distinctive.
- People have changed their spending patterns in response to changing conditions.
- Portuguese colonial rule followed a similar pattern to that of other powers.
- The overall pattern of our life changes little.
- The pattern is clear: obesity is associated with lower incomes.
- Their actions follow a very predictable pattern.
- There is no set pattern for these meetings.
- They analyzed employees' email usage patterns.
- We can trace a familiar pattern to these events.
- ideas that do not fit neatly into his patterns of thought
- The murders all seem to follow a similar pattern.
- an irregular sleeping pattern
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- basic
- existing
- familiar
- …
- discern
- identify
- notice
- …
- develop
- emerge
- change
- …
- pattern for
- pattern in
- pattern of
- …
- [usually singular] pattern for something an excellent example to copy
- This system sets the pattern for others to follow.
Extra Examples- Italy created the pattern for northern and central European art galleries.
- Providing the most value for the lowest cost is the traditional pattern for corporate success.
- a regular arrangement of lines, shapes, colours, etc. for example as a design on material, carpets, etc.
- a pattern of diamonds and squares
- a shirt with a floral pattern
- complex geometric patterns
Wordfinder- band
- check
- dot
- fleck
- pattern
- speckle
- splash
- spot
- streak
- stripe
Extra ExamplesTopics Clothes and Fashionb1, Houses and homesb1- He had arranged the glasses in a pattern on the table.
- She drew patterns in the sand.
- The jumper has a geometric pattern on it.
- The roof beams form a star-like pattern.
- The ice formed patterns on the windows.
- the pattern on the carpet
- wallpaper with a repeating pattern of interlocking shapes
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- intricate
- abstract
- geometric
- …
- have
- form
- produce
- …
- in a/the pattern
- pattern on
- pattern in
- …
- a design, set of instructions or shape to cut around that you use in order to make something
- a knitting pattern
- She bought a dress pattern and some material.
- a small piece of material, paper, etc. that helps you choose the design of something synonym sample
- wallpaper patterns
Word OriginMiddle English patron ‘something serving as a model’, from Old French from Latin patronus ‘protector of clients, defender’, from pater, patr- ‘father’. The change in sense is from the idea of a patron giving an example to be copied. By 1700 patron ceased to be used of things, and the two forms became differentiated in sense.