ideal

/ī-ˈdē(-ə)l/

Middle English ydeall, from Late Latin idealis, from Latin idea

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or embodying an ideal

  2. conforming exactly to an ideal, law, or standard : perfect

  3. existing as a mental image or in fancy or imagination only; broadly : lacking, practicality

ideal beauty

an ideal gas

noun

  1. a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence

  2. one regarded as exemplifying an ideal and often taken as a model for imitation

  3. an ultimate object or aim of endeavor : goal

model example pattern exemplar ideal mean someone or something set before one for guidance or imitation. model applies to something taken or proposed as worthy of imitation. example applies to a person to be imitated or in some contexts on no account to be imitated but to be regarded as a warning.

noun

  1. a point added to the plane or to space to eliminate special cases; specifically : the point at infinity added in projective geometry as the assumed intersection of two parallel lines