schema
UK[ˈskiːmə]US[ˈskiːmə]
n
A diagram, plan, or structured framework representing the arrangement of or relationships between things.
n
(In psychology) A mental model or organized pattern of thought used to interpret information and experiences.
Etymology
The word 'schema' entered English in the late 16th century as a technical term in rhetoric and logic, borrowed directly from Latin. Its ultimate origin is the Greek verb 'ἔχειν' (echein, 'to have, hold') and its related noun 'σχῆμα' (skhēma), which broadly denoted a form, shape, or figure. The conceptual journey from a concrete physical 'form' to an abstract 'plan' or 'model' occurred within Greek and Latin philosophical discourse. This etymological path explains the modern dual meaning: a concrete diagram (a visual form) and a cognitive framework (a mental form for organizing thought).
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It is a direct borrowing from the Latin 'schema', which itself came from the Greek 'σχῆμα' (skhēma), meaning 'form, shape, figure, plan'. Its functional role is as a complete noun.
Examples
The database schema outlines how all the tables are connected.
Children develop schemas to help them understand the world around them.
The architect presented a schema of the proposed building's floor plan.