1An object or feature which imitates the design of a similar artefact made from another material.
‘the pottery box with a square lid is a skeuomorph of a twilled basketry container’
‘A skeuomorph is a derivative object which retains ornamental design cues to a structure that was necessary in the original.’
‘Other types of bronzes from this area include representations of quadripeds and skeuomorphs of horn and gourd palm-wine vessels.’
‘First-generation skeuomorphs are close mimics, even fakes. Second-generation skeuomorphs abandon any serious attempt at deception.’
‘The brown fabric, the smooth finish, and the decoration, all combine to give the effect of a stitched leather vessel, of which this is no doubt a skeuomorph.’
‘It is accepted that much of the ornament on Irish and Pictish sculpture represents stone skeuomorphs of jewelled, metal-encased wooden crosses.’
1.1Computing An element of a graphical user interface which mimics a physical object.
‘note-taking apps offer skeuomorphs of yellow legal pads, squared paper, ring binders, etc.’
‘when you first load up the app, you'll be presented with a skeuomorph of a photo album’
‘If skeuomorphs do not help the user accomplish their goals, then they are more design than is necessary, and should be omitted.’
‘Detractors say skeuomorphs represent the triumph of familiarity over function.’
‘As these real-life analogs to Apple's skeuomorphs become less prevalent, these metaphors will be less and less useful to users.’
‘Inappropriate skeuomorphs can cause more problems than they solve.’
‘The page turning is one of the few software-based skeuomorphs that seems to be universally liked.’
Origin
Late 19th century from Greek skeuos ‘container, implement’ + morphē ‘form’.
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