ARCHETYPE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does archetype mean? 

• ARCHETYPE (noun)
  The noun ARCHETYPE has 1 sense:

1. something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies

  Familiarity information: ARCHETYPE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARCHETYPE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

archetype; original; pilot

Context example:

this painting is a copy of the original

Hypernyms ("archetype" is a kind of...):

example; model (a representative form or pattern)

Derivation:

archetypal; archetypical (representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned)

 Context examples 

This star system could be the archetype to explain a dazzling variety of glowing shapes uncovered by Hubble that are seen around dying stars, called planetary nebulae, researchers say.

(Hubble Detects Giant 'Cannonballs' Shooting from Star, NASA)