An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) A mathematical representation of a process, system, or object
developed to understand its behavior or to make predictions. The representation always involves certain simplifications and assumptions. See also → theory, → hypothesis.

1b) A mental image of a phenomenon using familiar terms (or images). For example, in the Bohr model the atom is visualized as a nucleus with electrons orbiting around it in a manner similar to the way that planets revolve around the Sun. While this model is use ul in understanding the atom, it is an over-simplified description of a real atom and does not describe/predict all of its attributes (G. Smooth, Lawrence Berkeley Lab website).

2. To make or construct a model of.

Etymology (EN): M.Fr. modelle (Fr. modèle), from It. modello “a model, mold,” from V.L. *modellus, from L. modulus “measure, standard,” from modus “manner, measure” (cf. Av. mad-, → mode), PIE *med- + -ulus, → -ula.

Etymology (PE): 1) Model, from Fr. modèle. Tarzâl, from tarz, → mode + -âl, → -al.
2) Model sâxtan, from model + sâxtan, sâzidan “to build, make, fashion; to adapt, adjust, be fit” (from
Mid.Pers. sâxtan, sâz-, Manichean Parthian s’c’dn “to prepare, to form;” Av. sak- “to understand, to mark,” sâcaya- (causative) “to teach”).
Tarzâlidan, from tarzâl + -idan infinitive suffix.