schema

[ skee-muh ]
/ ˈski mə /

noun, plural sche·ma·ta [skee-muh-tuh or, sometimes, skee-mah-tuh, ski-] /ˈski mə tə or, sometimes, skiˈmɑ tə, skɪ-/, sche·mas.

a diagram, plan, or scheme.
an underlying organizational pattern or structure; conceptual framework: A schema provides the basis by which someone relates to the events he or she experiences.
(in Kantian epistemology) a concept, similar to a universal but limited to phenomenal knowledge, by which an object of knowledge or an idea of pure reason may be apprehended.

Origin of schema

First recorded in 1790–1800, schema is from the Greek word schêma form

Example sentences from the Web for schemata

British Dictionary definitions for schemata

schema
/ (ˈskiːmə) /

noun plural -mata (-mətə)

a plan, diagram, or scheme
(in the philosophy of Kant) a rule or principle that enables the understanding to apply its categories and unify experience universal succession is the schema of causality
psychol a mental model of aspects of the world or of the self that is structured in such a way as to facilitate the processes of cognition and perception
logic an expression using metavariables that may be replaced by object language expressions to yield a well-formed formula. Thus A = A is an axiom schema for identity, representing the infinite number of axioms, x = x, y = y, z = z, etc

Word Origin for schema

C19: from Greek: form

Medical definitions for schemata

schema
[ skēmə ]

n. pl. sche•mas

A diagrammatic representation; an outline or a model.
A pattern imposed on complex reality or experience to assist in explaining it, mediate perception, or guide response.