如果把模型等價于英文中的Model來理解，可以概括出以下涵義：（1）依實(shí)物的形狀和結(jié)構(gòu)按比例制成的物品，用于展覽或?qū)嶒?yàn)（a small copy or imitation of an existing object made to scale for exhibition or experiment）；

（2）制造產(chǎn)品之前制作的參考雛型或結(jié)構(gòu)（a preliminary work or construction that serves as a plan from which a final product is to be made）；

（3）對系統(tǒng)、理論或現(xiàn)象的示意性描述，用來解釋其已知的或推斷的性質(zhì)，也可用于進(jìn)一步研究其特點(diǎn)（a schematic description of a system, theory, or phenomenon that accounts for its known or inferred properties and may be used for further study of its characteristics）。