Pattern vs Style - What's the difference?

In computing terms the difference between pattern and style

is that pattern is a text string containing wildcards, used for matching while style is a visual or other modification to text or other elements of a document, such as bold or italic.

As nouns the difference between pattern and style

is that pattern is model, example while style is a manner of doing or presenting things, especially a fashionable one.

As verbs the difference between pattern and style

is that pattern is to apply a pattern while style is to create or give a style, fashion or image.

pattern

English

(wikipedia pattern)

Noun

(en noun)

Model, example.

# Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.

#* 1923 , ‘President Wilson’, Time , 18 Jun 1923:

There is no reason why all colleges and universities should be cut to the same pattern .

# Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.

#* 1946 , Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy , I.16:

The Platonic Socrates was a pattern to subsequent philosophers for many ages.

# A representative example.

# (US) The material needed to make a piece of clothing.

# (textiles) The paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.

# (metalworking, dated) A full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.

# (computing) A text string containing wildcards, used for matching.

There were no files matching the pattern *.txt.

Decorative arrangement.

# A design, motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements.

#* 2003 , Valentino, ‘Is there a future in fashion's past?’, Time , 5 Feb 2003:

On my way to work the other day, I stopped at a church in Rome and saw a painting of the Madonna. The subtle pattern of blues and golds in the embroidery of her dress was so amazing that I used it to design a new evening dress for my haute couture.

# A naturally-occurring or random arrangement of shapes, colours etc. which have a regular or decorative effect.

#* 2011 , Rachel Cooke, The Observer , 19 Jun 2011:

He lifted the entire joint or fowl up into the air, speared on a carving fork, and sliced pieces off it so that they fell on the plate below in perfectly organised patterns .

# The given spread, range etc. of shot fired from a gun.

# A particular sequence of events, facts etc. which can be understood, used to predict the future, or seen to have a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship.

#* 1980 , ‘Shifting Targets’, Time , 6 Oct 1980:

The three killings pointed to an ugly new shift in the enduring pattern of violence in Northern Ireland: the mostly Protestant Ulster police, or those suspected of affiliation with them, have become more prominent targets for the I.R.A. than the British troops.

#* 2003 , Kate Hudson, The Guardian , 14 Aug 2003:

Look again at how the US and its allies behaved then, and the pattern is unmistakable.

# (linguistics) An intelligible arrangement in a given area of language.

Synonyms

* original (1) * stencil (1) * tessellation (2) * category (3) * cycle (4) * similarity (5) * See also

Antonyms

* antipattern

Derived terms

* design pattern

Verb

(en verb)

to apply a pattern

To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

* Sir T. Herbert

[A temple] patterned from that which Adam reared in Paradise.

to follow an example

to fit into a pattern

To serve as an example for.

Synonyms

* model * categorize (2)

style

English

Noun

(en noun)

A manner of doing or presenting things, especially a fashionable one.

* Chesterfield

Style is the dress of thoughts.

* C. Middleton

the usual style of dedications

* I. Disraeli

It is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work.

* Sir J. Reynolds

The ornamental style also possesses its own peculiar merit.

flair; grace; fashionable skill

As a dancer, he has a lot of style .

(botany) The stalk that connects the stigma(s) to the ovary in a pistil of a flower.

A traditional or legal term preceding a reference to a person who holds a title or post.

A traditional or legal term used to address a person who holds a title or post.

the style of Majesty

* Burke

one style to a gracious benefactor, another to a proud, insulting foe

(nonstandard) A stylus.

(obsolete) A pen; an author's pen.

(Dryden)

A sharp-pointed tool used in engraving; a graver.

A kind of blunt-pointed surgical instrument.

A long, slender, bristle-like process.

the anal styles of insects

The pin, or gnomon, of a sundial, the shadow of which indicates the hour.

(computing) A visual or other modification to text or other elements of a document, such as bold or italic.

applying styles to text in a wordprocessor

Cascading Style Sheets

Derived terms

* stylish * stylist * hairstyle * style guide * style manual

Verb

(styl)

To create or give a style, fashion or image.

To call or give a name or title.

* 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 10

Marianne’s preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision, stiled (SIC) Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to make his personal inquiries.

Anagrams

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