ˈpætən n. & v. --n. 1 a repeated
decorative design on
wallpaper,
cloth, a
carpet, etc. 2 a
regular or
logical form,
order, or
arrangement of parts (behaviour pattern;
the pattern of one's
daily life). 3 a
model or design, e.g. of a
garment,
from which copies can be
made. 4 an
example of
excellence; an
ideal; a model (a pattern of elegance). 5 a
wooden or
metal figure from which a mould is made
for a
casting. 6 a
sample (of cloth, wallpaper, etc.). 7 the marks made by shots, bombs, etc. on a
target or target
area. 8 a
random combination of shapes or colours. --v.tr. 1 (usu. foll. by
after, on) model (a thing) on a design etc. 2
decorate with a pattern. øpattern bombing bombing
over a
large area,
not on a
single target. [ME
patron (see PATRON): differentiated in
sense and spelling since the 16th-17th c.]