/ ˈtempleɪt; NAmE / noun
1.
a shape cut out of a hard material, used as a model for producing exactly the same shape many times in another material
2.
a thing that is used as a model for producing other similar examples :
If you need to write a lot of similar letters, set up a template on your computer.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent. (as templet ): probably from temple a device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched + -et . The change in the ending in the 19th cent. was due to association with plate .