prototype

noun
UK /ˈprəʊtətaɪp/
US /ˈproʊtətaɪp/

A prototype is a first model of something that is made to test it.

The engineers built a prototype of the new car before making many of them.

SYNONYMS

modeloriginalsamplemock-uptest version

RELATED WORDS

designinventionexperimentblueprintdevelopment

OTHER MEANINGS

2. An early or typical example that later things are based on.

This small village was a prototype for many towns built later.

3. In computing, a quick early version of a program used to try out ideas.

The team showed a prototype of the app to get feedback.

4. A person or thing that serves as a pattern for others to copy.

Her teaching style became a prototype for the whole school.