skeuomorph
- noun
- /ˈskjuːəˌmɔrf/
- Specialized
:
esqueuomorfo
- Technologists have suddenly learned the word skeuomorph, using it entirely pejoratively, but there is nothing wrong with skeuomorphism per se; all of Western architecture and almost all successful interaction design are based on it.
Examples
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In the design of that smartphone interface, the buttons are skeuomorphs of traditional physical controls.
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Note that both of these designs are skeuomorphs, one taking plastic and reproducing it digitally and the other polished wood and brass, but the difference is that the Braun plastic design has some ergonomic use.
Blog text (19) -
The new app features several skeuomorphs, like a calendar icon that looks like a physical planner.
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Many modern user interfaces still incorporate skeuomorphs, such as the notepad icon resembling a real notebook.
Synonyms
34
3.5
A thing made to look like something real to trick people
2
9.9
Something that looks like the real thing but is not
Something that looks like another thing but is not the same inside
Antonyms
How Imitative
Surface Forms
Morphology
skeuomorph = skeuo + morph
The components 'skeuo' and 'morph' are not transparently analysable in modern English without advanced etymological knowledge.
Etymology
Skeuomorph comes from Greek parts skeuos 'tool' or 'container' and morphe 'form' or 'shape'. So a skeuomorph keeps the old object's form—like a digital notepad that still looks like paper so it feels familiar.