template

UK: /ˈtɛmpleɪt/ US: /ˈtɛmplɪt/ ,(tem′plit)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tem•plate or tem•plet /ˈtɛmplɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Building a pattern or mold to help measure or to help in making copies of a thing.
2. Computing a flat strip, as of cardboard, placed on a computer keyboard to provide ease of reference to software commands.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tem•plate  (tem′plit), n. 

1. Genetics, Building a pattern, mold, or the like, usually consisting of a thin plate of wood or metal, serving as a gauge or guide in mechanical work.
2. anything that determines or serves as a pattern;
   a model:
   You can use my notes as a template for employee evaluations.
3. Genetics, Building [Building Trades.] a horizontal piece, as of timber or stone, in a wall, to receive and distribute the pressure of a girder, beam, or the like.
4. Genetics, Nautical, Naval Terms [Shipbuilding.] either of two wedges in each of the temporary blocks forming the support for the keel of a ship while building.
5. Genetics, Surveying [Aerial Photogrammetry.] any object having lines, slots, or straightedges to represent lines radiating from the center of a photograph, used for graphic triangulation.
6. Genetics a strand of DNA or RNA that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of a complementary strand of nucleic acid or protein.
7. Computing
   • a small sheet or strip of cardboard, plastic, or the like, that fits over a portion of the keyboard and provides ready reference to the keystroke commands of a particular software program.
   • an electronic file with a predesigned, customized format and structure, as for a fax, letter, or expense report, ready to be filled in.
8. Genetics, Building Also called safe. a marble base for a toilet.

Also, templet. 

• alteration of templet, apparently by falsely etymologizing final syllable as plate¹ 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

template, templet / ˈtɛmplɪt/ noun

1. a gauge or pattern, cut out in wood or metal, used in woodwork, etc, to help shape something accurately
2. a pattern cut out in card or plastic, used in various crafts to reproduce shapes
3. a short beam, made of metal, wood, or stone, that is used to spread a load, as over a doorway
4. the molecular structure of a compound that serves as a pattern for the production of the molecular structure of another specific compound in a reaction

Etymology: 17th Century templet (later spelling influenced by plate), probably from French, diminutive of temple³