English · Science & Technology
prototype
/ˈprəʊ.tə.taɪp/
[/ˈprəʊ.tə.taɪp/]
first working model
Advancednoun
Definition
An early model of a product built to test an idea before full production.
Example
The engineers built a prototype of the new phone to test its features before mass production.
The engineers built a prototype of the new phone to test its features before mass production.
Etymology
From Greek 'prototypon' (a first impression), from 'protos' (first) plus 'typos' (model).
How & Where It’s Used
Common in engineering, product design, and software development.