(~s)
1.
An ~ is someone or something that is considered to be so good that they should be copied or imitated. (FORMAL)
They viewed their new building as an ~ of taste.
= example
N-COUNT: oft N of n
2.
An ~ is a typical example of a group or class of things. (FORMAL)
One of the wittiest ~s of the technique was M. C. Escher.
N-COUNT: oft N of n