Model is tense (7)
I believe the answer is:
perfect
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'model' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'tense' is the second definition.
(perfect is a kind of tense)
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for perfect that I've seen before include "Getting by scheming" , "Flawless - finish" , "Without fault or defect" , "Polish" , "Exemplary" .)