template

[tem-plit] /ˈtɛm plɪt/
noun
1.
a pattern, mold, or the like, usually consisting of a thin plate of wood or metal, serving as a gauge or guide in mechanical work.
2.
anything that determines or serves as a pattern; a model:
You can use my notes as a template for employee evaluations.
3.
Building Trades. a horizontal piece, as of timber or stone, in a wall, to receive and distribute the pressure of a girder, beam, or the like.
4.
Shipbuilding. either of two wedges in each of the temporary blocks forming the support for the keel of a ship while building.
5.
Aerial Photogrammetry. any object having lines, slots, or straightedges to represent lines radiating from the center of a photograph, used for graphic triangulation.
6.
Genetics. a strand of DNA or RNA that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of a complementary strand of nucleic acid or protein.
7.
Computers.
  1. a small sheet or strip of cardboard, plastic, or the like, that fits over a portion of the keyboard and provides ready reference to the keystroke commands of a particular software program.
  2. an electronic file with a predesigned, customized format and structure, as for a fax, letter, or expense report, ready to be filled in.
8.
Also called safe. a marble base for a toilet.
Also, templet.
Origin
1670-80; alteration of templet, apparently by falsely etymologizing final syllable as plate1
Examples from the web for templates
  • The post also has links to snowflake templates for cutting your own winter decorations.
  • Yet these state models are unlikely to serve as templates for federal elections.
  • In other words, the replication is a special case which requires precisely-constructed, preexisting templates.
  • Once back in the cool region, new double strands-copies of the original one-could form as the single strands acted as templates.
  • The templates exist beforehand, the mutations mutate towards the templates.
  • Choose between pre-made templates or start a custom list of your own.
  • If these nations can beat back the disease, they'll serve as templates for the global anti-malaria effort.
  • Begin by choosing a name and a look for your blog from among a number of available templates.
  • Some word processors come with built in templates that will create this for you.
  • They will need to engage faculty willing to produce the interface, programming, and illustration templates for nearly nothing.
British Dictionary definitions for templates

template

/ˈtɛmplɪt/
noun
1.
a gauge or pattern, cut out in wood or metal, used in woodwork, etc, to help shape something accurately
2.
a pattern cut out in card or plastic, used in various crafts to reproduce shapes
3.
a short beam, made of metal, wood, or stone, that is used to spread a load, as over a doorway
4.
(biochem) the molecular structure of a compound that serves as a pattern for the production of the molecular structure of another specific compound in a reaction
Word Origin
C17 templet (later spelling influenced by plate), probably from French, diminutive of temple³
Word Origin and History for templates

template

n.

1670s, templet "horizontal piece under a girder or beam," probably from French templet "weaver's stretcher," diminutive of temple, which meant the same thing, from Latin templum "plank, rafter," also "building for worship" (see temple (n.1)).

The meaning "pattern or gauge for shaping a piece of work" is first recorded 1819 in this form, earlier temple (1680s); the form was altered 1844, probably influenced by plate, but the pronunciation did not begin to shift until much more recently.

templates in Medicine

template tem·plate or tem·plet (těm'plĭt)
n.

  1. A pattern or gauge, such as a thin metal plate with a cut pattern, used as a guide in making something accurately, as in woodworking.

  2. A molecule, such as DNA, that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of a macromolecule, as of RNA.

templates in Science
template
  (těm'plĭt)   
A molecule of a nucleic acid, such as DNA, that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of another molecule of a nucleic acid.