schema

/'ski:mə/

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Word: Schema

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: A "schema" is like a mental blueprint or a plan that helps us understand how things are organized in the world. It’s a way we categorize and connect different ideas or concepts based on what we already know.

Usage Instructions: You can use "schema" when discussing how we organize knowledge or when explaining a plan or structure. It's often used in educational and psychological contexts.

Example Sentence: "Before starting her research project, Maria created a schema to outline her main ideas and how they connect to each other."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, "schema" can refer to specific frameworks used in psychology to describe how we interpret information. For example, in cognitive psychology, a schema helps us understand how we process new information based on our past experiences.

Word Variants

• Schematic (adjective): Relating to or in the form of a diagram or plan.

  • Example: "The engineer presented a schematic design of the bridge."

• Schematization (noun): The process of creating a schema.

  • Example: "The schematization of the data made it easier to analyze."

Different Meanings

1. In some contexts, "schema" can refer to a formal structure or outline in databases, where it describes how data is organized.
2. In linguistics, a schema can refer to the structure of sentences or the underlying rules that govern language use.

Synonyms

• Framework
• Outline
• Structure
• Diagram
• Model

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While "schema" itself doesn't have specific idioms or phrasal verbs, you can think about phrases related to planning or organizing, such as: - "Map out" (to plan something in detail) - Example: "Let’s map out our strategy for the project."

Summary

In summary, a "schema" is a helpful tool for organizing thoughts, ideas, or information in a structured way. It can be used in various fields, including psychology, education, and data management.

Academic

Noun

1. a schematic or preliminary plan
2. an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world

Synonyms

• outline
• scheme