Form
[fɔːm] or [fɔrm]
Definition
(noun.) a mold for setting concrete; 'they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation'.
(noun.) the visual appearance of something or someone; 'the delicate cast of his features'.
(noun.) a particular mode in which something is manifested; 'his resentment took the form of extreme hostility'.
(noun.) an ability to perform well; 'he was at the top of his form'; 'the team was off form last night'.
(noun.) a perceptual structure; 'the composition presents problems for students of musical form'; 'a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them'.
(noun.) the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something; 'the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached'.
(noun.) a printed document with spaces in which to write; 'he filled out his tax form'.
(noun.) an arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse; 'the essay was in the form of a dialogue'; 'he first sketches the plot in outline form'.
(noun.) (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; 'a new strain of microorganisms'.
(verb.) assume a form or shape; 'the water formed little beads'.
(verb.) create (as an entity); 'social groups form everywhere'; 'They formed a company'.
(verb.) to compose or represent:'This wall forms the background of the stage setting'; 'The branches made a roof'; 'This makes a fine introduction'.
(verb.) develop into a distinctive entity; 'our plans began to take shape'.
Checked by Elmer--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A suffix used to denote in the form / shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform.
(n.) The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration; figure; external appearance.
(n.) Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government.
(n.) Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer.
(n.) Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form.
(n.) Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty.
(n.) A shape; an image; a phantom.
(n.) That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model.
(n.) A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society.
(n.) The seat or bed of a hare.
(n.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.
(n.) The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body.
(n.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.
(n.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
(n.) That assemblage or disposition of qualities which makes a conception, or that internal constitution which makes an existing thing to be what it is; -- called essential or substantial form, and contradistinguished from matter; hence, active or formative nature; law of being or activity; subjectively viewed, an idea; objectively, a law.
(n.) Mode of acting or manifestation to the senses, or the intellect; as, water assumes the form of ice or snow. In modern usage, the elements of a conception furnished by the mind's own activity, as contrasted with its object or condition, which is called the matter; subjectively, a mode of apprehension or belief conceived as dependent on the constitution of the mind; objectively, universal and necessary accompaniments or elements of every object known or thought of.
(n.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant.
(n.) To give form or shape to; to frame; to construct; to make; to fashion.
(n.) To give a particular shape to; to shape, mold, or fashion into a certain state or condition; to arrange; to adjust; also, to model by instruction and discipline; to mold by influence, etc.; to train.
(n.) To go to make up; to act as constituent of; to be the essential or constitutive elements of; to answer for; to make the shape of; -- said of that out of which anything is formed or constituted, in whole or in part.
(n.) To provide with a form, as a hare. See Form, n., 9.
(n.) To derive by grammatical rules, as by adding the proper suffixes and affixes.
(v. i.) To take a form, definite shape, or arrangement; as, the infantry should form in column.
(v. i.) To run to a form, as a hare.
Inputed by DeWitt
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Shape (with especial reference to structure), figure, configuration, conformation, mould, fashion, cast, cut, TOURNURE.[2]. Mode, method, formula, formulary, established practice.[3]. Manner, system.[4]. Regularity, order, arrangement, shapeliness.[5]. Ceremony, formality, ceremonial, conventionality, etiquette, conventional rule.[6]. Empty show, mere appearance.[7]. Bench, long seat (without a back).[8]. Class, rank of students.[9]. Type in a chase (ready for printing).[10]. Mould, pattern, model.
v. a. [1]. Fashion, shape, carve, mould.[2]. Make, create, produce.[3]. Contrive, devise, invent, frame.[4]. Constitute, compose, make up.[5]. Arrange, dispose, combine.
Editor: Lucius
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Shape, mould, fashion, constitute, arrange, frame, construct, contrive,conceive, make, produce, create, devise
ANT:Deform, dislocate, distort, dissipate, derange, dismember, disintegrate,analyze, disorganize
Checker: Vernon
Definition
n. shape of a body: the boundary-line of an object: a model: a mould: mode of being: mode of arrangement: order: regularity: system as of government: beauty or elegance: established practice: ceremony: fitness or efficiency for any undertaking: a blank schedule to be filled in with details: a specimen document to be copied or imitated: (phil.) the inherent nature of an object that which the mind itself contributes as the condition of knowing that in which the essence of a thing consists: (print.) the type from which an impression is to be taken arranged and secured in a chase—often Forme:—(in the fol. senses pron. fōrm) a long seat a bench: the pupils on a form a class: the bed of a hare which takes its shape from the animal's body.—v.t. to give form or shape to: to make: to contrive: to settle as an opinion: to combine: to go to make up: to establish: (gram.) to make by derivation.—v.i. to assume a form.—adj. Form′al according to form or established mode: ceremonious punctilious methodical: having the form only: (Shak.) embodied in a form: having the power of making a thing what it is: essential: proper.—v.t. and v.i. Form′alise.—ns. Form′alism excessive observance of form or conventional usage esp. in religion: stiffness of manner; Form′alist one having exaggerated regard to rules or established usages; Formal′ity the precise observance of forms or ceremonies: established order: sacrifice of substance to form.—adv. Form′ally.—n. Formā′tion a making or producing: structure: (geol.) a group of strata of one period.—adj. Form′ative giving form determining moulding: (gram.) inflectional serving to form not radical.—n. a derivative.—p.adj. Formed trained mature.—n. Form′er.—adj. Form′less shapeless.—Formal logic (see Logic).—Good or Bad form according to good social usage or the opposite; Take form to assume a definite appearance.
Checked by Ellen
Unserious Contents or Definition
To see anything ill formed, denotes disappointment. To have a beautiful form, denotes favorable conditions to health and business.
Typist: Sophie
Examples
- They have a kind of hard flints, which, by grinding against other stones, they form into instruments, that serve instead of wedges, axes, and hammers. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- The latter peculiarity took the form of a dislike to being left alone, especially after dark. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- He entered the front room not without blushing; for he, like many, had felt the power of this girl's face and form. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- The most efficient form of water motor is the turbine, a strong metal wheel shaped somewhat like a pin wheel, inclosed in a heavy metal case. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- THERE'S a babby for you,' said Mr. Peggotty, with another roar, 'in the form of a Sea Porkypine! Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- In the hydraulic form of elevator, a motor worked by water is employed to lift the car, although steam power is also employed to raise the water. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Undoubtedly, he said, the form of government which you describe is a mixture of good and evil. Plato. The Republic.
- The motors are arranged under the cars in varying forms adapted to the structure of the car. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Ingenious forms of hand-operated ironing machines for turning over and ironing the edges of collars, and other articles, are in successful use. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- Painting, chopping wood, hammering, plowing, washing, scrubbing, sewing, are all forms of work. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Israel wars with Judah and the neighbouring states; forms alliances first with one and then with the other. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The modern boss, on the other hand, shelters behind legal forms which he has got hold of and uses for his own ends. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Scientists and inventors now had two forms of electrical machines to produce light: the voltaic battery and the magneto-electric apparatus. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- It had grammatical forms and verbal devices of some complexity. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Animal and vegetable matter buried in the depth of the earth sometimes undergoes natural distillation, and as a result gas is formed. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- When the iron parts with its carbon it loses its fluidity and becomes plastic and coherent, and is formed into balls called _blooms_. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The offered hand--rather large, but beautifully formed--was given to me with the easy, unaffected self-reliance of a highly-bred woman. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- In such a Kaleidoscope, the circular figure will be formed by three reflections from each glass. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- From the cooling and cont racting masses that were to constitute the planets smaller zones and rings were formed. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- I have formed no conclusion whatever, my companion answered. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- You have, no doubt, already formed your conclusions from the newspapers, he said. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- In the same odd way, yet with the same rapidity, he then produced singly, and rubbed out singly, the letters forming the words Bleak House. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Carr's division was deployed on our right, Lawler's brigade forming his extreme right and reaching through these woods to the river above. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- He had a great deal of difficulty in forming a company to finance it, but he was a man of much perseverance, and at length he succeeded. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- In my situation, it would have been the extreme of vanity to be forming expectations on Mr. Crawford. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- I never could, even in forming a common acquaintance, assert or prove a claim to average quickness. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Round and round the meadow went horse and man, forming so striking a sight that Maurice and Crispin paused in their dressing to look at it. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- As was pointed out in the discussion of habit-forming (ante, p. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
Editor: Zeke