template

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
template /ˈtɛmpleɪt, -plɪt/ (also templet)

▶noun

• 1 a shaped piece of rigid material used as a pattern for processes such as cutting out, shaping, or drilling.

• 2 something serving as a model.

  ■ Computing a preset format for a document or file.

  ■ Biochemistry a nucleic acid molecule that acts as a pattern for the sequence of assembly of a protein, nucleic acid, or other large molecule.

• 3 a timber or plate used to distribute the weight in a wall or under a support.

– origin C17 (as templet): prob. from temple3 + -et1; influenced by plate.