template

1. A pattern or guide that determines the shape of a substance. 2. Metaphorically, the specifying nature of a macromolecule, usually a nucleic acid or polynucleotide, with respect to the primary structure of the nucleic acid or polynucleotide or protein made from it in vivo or in vitro. 3. In dentistry, a curved or flat plate utilized as an aid in setting teeth. 4. An outline used to trace teeth, bones, or soft tissue in order to standardize their form. 5. A pattern or guide that determines the specificity of antibody globulins. [Fr. templet, temple of a loom, fr. L. templum, small timber]

- surgical t. 1. a thin, transparent, resin base shaped to duplicate the form of the impression surface of an immediate denture, used as a guide for surgically shaping the alveolar process to fit an immediate denture; 2. a guide for various osteotomy procedures; 3. a guide for duplicating size and shape for an autogenic (free) gingival graft.

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tem·plate 'tem-plət n

1) also tem·plet a gauge, pattern, or mold used as a guide to the form of a piece being made

2) a molecule (as of DNA) that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of another macromolecule (as messenger RNA)

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tem·plate (temґplət) [Old Fr. templet a weaver's bar] 1. a pattern or mold. 2. in genetics, a strand of DNA or RNA that specifies the base sequence of the strand of DNA or RNA to be synthesized in replication or transcription, the newly synthesized strand being complementary to the template. 3. in dentistry, a curved or flat plate used as an aid in setting teeth in a denture.