tem ‧ plate /ˈtempleɪt, -plət/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: French ; Origin: templet , from temple 'instrument in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched' , probably from Latin templum ; ⇨ ↑ temple ]
1 . a thin sheet of plastic or metal in a special shape or pattern, used to help cut other materials in a similar shape
2 . technical a computer document containing some basic information that you use as a model for writing other documents, such as business letters, envelopes etc
3 . written something that is used as a model for another thing
template for
Her childhood became a template for how she brought up her own children.