Example

//ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something that is representative of all such things in a group.

    "If Demandt's essay served as a strident example of the German desire for normalcy, a more subtle example was provided by a brief allohistorical depiction of a Nazi victory in World War II written by German historian Michael Salewski in 1999."

  2. 2
    a task performed or problem solved in order to develop skill or understanding wordnet
  3. 3
    Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule.

    "Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, […]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe."

  4. 4
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group wordnet
  5. 5
    Something that serves as a pattern of behaviour to be imitated (a good example) or not to be imitated (a bad example).

    "Nelson Mandela was an example for many to follow."

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    something to be imitated wordnet
  2. 7
    A person punished as a warning to others.

    "[…]hang him, hee'le be made an example."

  3. 8
    a representative form or pattern wordnet
  4. 9
    A parallel or closely similar case, especially when serving as a precedent or model.

    "Such temperate order in ſo fierce a cauſe, / Doth want example:[…]"

  5. 10
    punishment intended as a warning to others wordnet
  6. 11
    An instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate the rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of the rule.
  7. 12
    an occurrence of something wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To be illustrated or exemplified (by).

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).

Etymology 2

From Middle English example, exaumple, from Old French example, essaumple, from Latin exemplum (“sample, pattern, specimen, copy for imitation, etc.”, literally “what is taken out”); see exempt. Doublet of exemplum and sample. Displaced native Middle English forebisne, from Old English forebȳsn; and Middle English bisne, from Old English bȳsn (modern English bizen).

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