Prototype: meaning, definitions and examples

Useful when referring to an initial version of a product, often in the context of engineering, design, and product development. It is usually the first functional version made to test and refine ideas.

• The team built a prototype of the new smartphone to test its features.
• Our engineers created a prototype to evaluate its performance.

Often used in various fields including education, science, and architecture, a model can refer to a scaled-down version of something or a theoretical representation. It helps in simulation, demonstrating functionalities, or educational purposes.

• Students built a model of the solar system for their project.
• The researchers developed a computer model to simulate climate change.

Best used when referring to a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like. Commonly used in contexts like market research, material testing, or quality control.

• We collected soil samples for testing.
• The company sent out samples of their new product to potential customers.

Commonly used in design and advertising, mock-ups typically refer to non-functional models that give a visual representation of how the final product will look. They are often used to present ideas to clients or stakeholders.

• We showed the client a mock-up of their new website.
• The architects prepared a mock-up of the building to illustrate the design.

This term is typically used in engineering, technology, and design to describe the first model of a product, which is created to test and refine it before mass production.

• The engineers built a prototype to test the new features of the electric car.
• The first prototype of the smartphone had several issues that needed to be fixed before the final version was released.

This is often used in historical or genealogical contexts to refer to a person from whom one is descended, typically more remote than a grandparent.

• She traced her family tree back to an ancestor who lived in the 1700s.
• The ancient artifact belonged to his distant ancestor.

This term is used to indicate something that comes before another and paves the way for its development. It can be used in scientific, historical, or literary contexts.

• The invention of the steam engine was a precursor to the Industrial Revolution.
• The Roman legal system was a precursor to many modern laws.

This word is often used to describe something that precedes something else and indicates its approach, sometimes setting the stage for the more modern or well-known instance.

• The telegraph was a forerunner to modern communication technologies.
• The early electronic calculators were the forerunners of today's computers.