Uzorak

Uzorak is a noun used in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian to denote either a sample or a pattern, depending on the context. It is a common term in everyday language as well as in technical and decorative speech.

In scientific, medical, and forensic contexts, uzorak refers to a specimen taken for testing or analysis. Examples include uzorak krvi (blood sample), uzorak tkiva (tissue sample), and uzorak urina (urine sample). The word emphasizes a representative piece selected for examination.

In design, textiles, and art, uzorak means a pattern or motif used in decoration. A fabric with a floral uzorak is described as having a repeating design. The term can also appear in broader metaphorical uses, such as referencing a model or example to follow within a process or procedure.

The term is widely used across Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, and shares cognates with related South Slavic varieties. Its exact historical origin is a topic for linguistic study, but its dual sense of specimen and pattern is well established in contemporary usage.

Related terms in English include pattern and sample, reflecting the two primary senses of uzorak in South Slavic languages. In context, the noun is typically clarified by accompanying nouns or adjectives, ensuring the intended meaning is clear in conversation or writing.