maquette

noun

ma·quette ma-ˈket

: a usually small preliminary model (as of a sculpture or a building)

Did you know?

Maquette came to English directly from French, first appearing in our language in the late 19th century. The French word, which possesses the same meaning as its English descendant, derived from the Italian noun macchietta, meaning "sketch," and ultimately from Latin macula, meaning "spot." Maquettes are generally intended to serve as rough models of larger designs. Architects make maquettes of their buildings, and sculptors often create maquettes in wax or clay to help them realize the final sculpture. As an aside, you might spot something familiar in the word's Latin ancestor. The term "macula" in English refers to a spot (such as one on the eye) that is different from surrounding tissue; this is where we get the term "macular degeneration."

Examples of maquette in a Sentence

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His original maquette — which was on view at the High Line along with the other 12 finalists in 2021 — looked rather like a stiff toy pigeon. —

Carl Swanson, Curbed, 31 July 2024 After leading the group to the crumbling maquette at the cemetery, the duo gave a formal presentation on the results of their research efforts. —

Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024 The exhibition retraces her more than 60-year career through drawings and designs, prototypes and sketches, maquettes and photographs. —

Andrea Onate, WWD, 26 Sep. 2024 The filmmakers create maquettes for each character, at different ages. —

Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for maquette