The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word TEMPLATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
E
M
P
L
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result TEMPLATE
- Model short-term office worker, delayed
- Agency worker, former model
- Casual worker behind schedule establishes pattern
- Actor grabs at model
- Model and casual worker behind schedule
- Casual worker’s former model
- Agency worker not on time, establishing a pattern
- Model prisoner leaves study
- Model typist working overtime?
- Short-term worker not on time to produce pattern
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "model" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case model = template.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TEMPLATE mean?
TEMPLATE noun- A physical object whose shape is used as a guide to make other objects.
- A generic model or pattern from which other objects are based or derived.
- A macromolecule which provides a pattern for the synthesis of another molecule.
- A partially defined class or function, that can be instantiated in a variety of ways depending on the instantiation arguments.
- To set up or mark off using a template.
- To provide a template or pattern for.