noun

1. a customary way of operation or behavior

e.g. it is their practice to give annual raises
they changed their dietary pattern

Synonym: practice

2. a decorative or artistic work

e.g. the coach had a design on the doors

Synonym: designfigure

3. something regarded as a normative example

e.g. the convention of not naming the main character
violence is the rule not the exception
his formula for impressing visitors

Synonym: conventionnormalruleformula

4. something intended as a guide for making something else

e.g. a blueprint for a house
a pattern for a skirt

Synonym: blueprintdesign

5. a perceptual structure

e.g. the composition presents problems for students of musical form
a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them

Synonym: formshape

6. a model considered worthy of imitation

e.g. the American constitution has provided a pattern for many republics

7. graphical representation (in polar or Cartesian coordinates) of the spatial distribution of radiation from an antenna as a function of angle

Synonym: radiation patternradiation diagram

8. the path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport

e.g. the traffic patterns around O'Hare are very crowded
they stayed in the pattern until the fog lifted

Synonym: traffic patternapproach pattern

noun

1. the location of something surrounded by other things

e.g. in the midst of the crowd

Synonym: midst

noun

1. confidential information about a topic or person

    e.g. he wanted the inside skinny on the new partner

noun

1. V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service

e.g. they earned their stripes in Kuwait

Synonym: chevronstripegrade insignia