external appearance of a clearly defined area, as distinguished from color or material; configuration: a triangular form.
2.
the shape of a thing or person.
3.
a body, esp. that of a human being.
4.
a dummy having the same measurements as a human body, used for fitting or displaying clothing: a dressmaker's form.
5.
something that gives or determines shape; a mold.
6.
a particular condition, character, or mode in which something appears: water in the form of ice.
7.
the manner or style of arranging and coordinating parts for a pleasing or effective result, as in literary or musical composition: a unique form for the novel.
8.
Fine Arts.
a.
the organization, placement, or relationship of basic elements, as lines and colors in a painting or volumes and voids in a sculpture, so as to produce a coherent image; the formal structure of a work of art.
b.
three-dimensional quality or volume, as of a represented object or anatomical part.
c.
an object, person, or part of the human body or the appearance of any of these, esp. as seen in nature: His work is characterized by the radical distortion of the human form.
9.
any assemblage of things of a similar kind constituting a component of a group, especially of a zoological group.
10.
Crystallography. the combination of all the like faces possible on a crystal of given symmetry.
11.
due or proper shape; orderly arrangement of parts; good order.
12.
Philosophy.
a.
the structure, pattern, organization, or essential nature of anything.
b.
structure or pattern as distinguished from matter.
c.
(initial capital letter) Platonism. idea(def. 7c).
d.
Aristotelianism. that which places a thing in its particular species or kind.
13.
Logic. the abstract relations of terms in a proposition, and of propositions to one another.
14.
a set, prescribed, or customary order or method of doing something.
15.
a set order of words, as for use in religious ritual or in a legal document: a form for initiating new members.
16.
a document with blank spaces to be filled in with particulars before it is executed: a tax form.
17.
a typical document to be used as a guide in framing others for like cases: a form for a deed.
18.
a conventional method of procedure or behavior: society's forms.
19.
a formality or ceremony, often with implication of absence of real meaning: to go through the outward forms of a religious wedding.
20.
procedure according to a set order or method.
21.
conformity to the usages of society; formality; ceremony: the elaborate forms prevalent in the courts of renaissance kings.
22.
procedure or conduct, as judged by social standards: Such behavior is very bad form. Good form demands that we go.
23.
manner or method of performing something; technique: The violin soloist displayed tremendous form.
24.
physical condition or fitness, as for performing: a tennis player in peak form.
25.
Grammar.
a.
a word, part of a word, or group of words forming a construction that recurs in various contexts in a language with relatively constant meaning. Compare linguistic form.
b.
a particular shape of such a form that occurs in more than one shape. In I'm, 'm is a form of am.
c.
a word with a particular inflectional ending or other modification. Goes is a form of go.
26.
Linguistics. the shape or pattern of a word or other construction (distinguished from substance).
27.
Building Trades. temporary boarding or sheeting of plywood or metal for giving a desired shape to poured concrete, rammed earth, etc.
28.
a grade or class of pupils in a British secondary school or in certain U.S. private schools: boys in the fourth form.
29.
British. a bench or long seat.
30.
Also, British, forme.Printing. an assemblage of types, leads, etc., secured in a chase to print from.
–verb (used with object)
31.
to construct or frame.
32.
to make or produce.
33.
to serve to make up; serve as; compose; constitute: The remaining members will form the program committee.
34.
to place in order; arrange; organize.
35.
to frame (ideas, opinions, etc.) in the mind.
36.
to contract or develop (habits, friendships, etc.).
37.
to give form or shape to; shape; fashion.
38.
to give a particular form or shape to; fashion in a particular manner: Form the dough into squares.
39.
to mold or develop by discipline or instructions: The sergeant's job was to form boys into men.
40.
Grammar.
a.
to make (a derivation) by some grammatical change: The suffix “-ly” forms adverbs from adjectives.
b.
to have (a grammatical feature) represented in a particular shape: English forms plurals in “-s”.
41.
Military. to draw up in lines or in formation.
–verb (used without object)
42.
to take or assume form.
43.
to be formed or produced: Ice began to form on the window.
44.
to take a particular form or arrangement: The ice formed in patches across the window.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME forme < OF < L fōrma form, figure, model, mold, sort, ML: seat]
—Related forms
form·a·ble, adjective
form·a·bly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. mold, cast, cut. Form,figure,outline,shape refer to an appearance that can be recognized.Form,figure, and shape are often used to mean an area defined by contour without regard to other identifying qualities, as color or material. Outline refers to the line that delimits a form, figure, or shape: the outline of a hill. Form often includes a sense of mass or volume: a solid form. Shape may refer to an outline or a form: an “S” shape; a woman's shape. Figure often refers to a form or shape determined by its outline: the figure eight. Form and shape may also be applied to abstractions: the shape or form of the future. Form is applied to physical objects, mental images, methods of procedure, etc.; it is a more inclusive term than either shape or figure: the form of a cross, of a ceremony, of a poem. 5. model, pattern, jig. 9. sort, kind, order, type. 14. ceremony, ritual, formula, formality, rule. 16. blank. 19, 20. system, mode, practice, formula. 31. model, fabricate, mold, forge, cast, outline. 32. create. 34. systematize, dispose. 39. teach, educate, train.
The body or outward appearance of a person or an animal considered separately from the face or head; figure.
The essence of something.
The mode in which a thing exists, acts, or manifests itself; kind: a form of animal life; a form of blackmail.
Procedure as determined or governed by regulation or custom.
A fixed order of words or procedures, as for use in a ceremony; a formula.
Manners or conduct as governed by etiquette, decorum, or custom.
Behavior according to a fixed or accepted standard: Tardiness is considered bad form.
Performance considered with regard to acknowledged criteria: a good jump shooter having an unusual form.
Proven ability to perform: a musician at the top of her form.
Fitness, as of an athlete or animal, with regard to health or training.
The past performance of a racehorse.
A racing form.
Method of arrangement or manner of coordinating elements in literary or musical composition or in organized discourse: presented my ideas in outline form; a treatise in the form of a dialogue.
A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
The essence of something.
The mode in which a thing exists, acts, or manifests itself; kind: a form of animal life; a form of blackmail.
Procedure as determined or governed by regulation or custom.
A fixed order of words or procedures, as for use in a ceremony; a formula.
Manners or conduct as governed by etiquette, decorum, or custom.
Behavior according to a fixed or accepted standard: Tardiness is considered bad form.
Performance considered with regard to acknowledged criteria: a good jump shooter having an unusual form.
Proven ability to perform: a musician at the top of her form.
Fitness, as of an athlete or animal, with regard to health or training.
The past performance of a racehorse.
A racing form.
Method of arrangement or manner of coordinating elements in literary or musical composition or in organized discourse: presented my ideas in outline form; a treatise in the form of a dialogue.
A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
Procedure as determined or governed by regulation or custom.
A fixed order of words or procedures, as for use in a ceremony; a formula.
Manners or conduct as governed by etiquette, decorum, or custom.
Behavior according to a fixed or accepted standard: Tardiness is considered bad form.
Performance considered with regard to acknowledged criteria: a good jump shooter having an unusual form.
Proven ability to perform: a musician at the top of her form.
Fitness, as of an athlete or animal, with regard to health or training.
The past performance of a racehorse.
A racing form.
Method of arrangement or manner of coordinating elements in literary or musical composition or in organized discourse: presented my ideas in outline form; a treatise in the form of a dialogue.
A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
A document with blanks for the insertion of details or information: insurance forms.
Manners or conduct as governed by etiquette, decorum, or custom.
Behavior according to a fixed or accepted standard: Tardiness is considered bad form.
Performance considered with regard to acknowledged criteria: a good jump shooter having an unusual form.
Proven ability to perform: a musician at the top of her form.
Fitness, as of an athlete or animal, with regard to health or training.
The past performance of a racehorse.
A racing form.
Method of arrangement or manner of coordinating elements in literary or musical composition or in organized discourse: presented my ideas in outline form; a treatise in the form of a dialogue.
A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
Proven ability to perform: a musician at the top of her form.
Fitness, as of an athlete or animal, with regard to health or training.
The past performance of a racehorse.
A racing form.
Method of arrangement or manner of coordinating elements in literary or musical composition or in organized discourse: presented my ideas in outline form; a treatise in the form of a dialogue.
A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
Method of arrangement or manner of coordinating elements in literary or musical composition or in organized discourse: presented my ideas in outline form; a treatise in the form of a dialogue.
A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
A mold for the setting of concrete.
A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
A grade in a British secondary school or in some American private schools: the sixth form.
A linguistic form.
The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
The resting place of a hare.
Botany A subdivision of a variety usually differing in one trivial characteristic, such as flower color.
v.
formed, form·ing, forms
v.
tr.
To give form to; shape: form clay into figures.
To develop in the mind; conceive: form an opinion.
To shape or mold (dough, for example) into a particular form.
To arrange oneself in: Holding out his arms, the cheerleader formed a T. The acrobats formed a pyramid.
To organize or arrange: The environmentalists formed their own party.
To fashion, train, or develop by instruction or precept: form a child's mind.
To produce (a tense, for example) by inflection: form the pluperfect.
To make (a word) by derivation or composition.
To shape or mold (dough, for example) into a particular form.
To arrange oneself in: Holding out his arms, the cheerleader formed a T. The acrobats formed a pyramid.
To organize or arrange: The environmentalists formed their own party.
To fashion, train, or develop by instruction or precept: form a child's mind.
To produce (a tense, for example) by inflection: form the pluperfect.
To make (a word) by derivation or composition.
To come to have; develop or acquire: form a habit.
To constitute or compose a usually basic element, part, or characteristic of.
To produce (a tense, for example) by inflection: form the pluperfect.
To make (a word) by derivation or composition.
To put in order; arrange.
v.
intr.
To become formed or shaped.
To come into being by taking form; arise.
To assume a specified form, shape, or pattern.
[Middle English forme, from Latin fōrma.]
form'a·bil'i·ty n., form'a·ble adj.
Synonyms: These nouns refer to the external outline of a thing. Form is the outline and structure of a thing as opposed to its substance: a brooch in the form of a lovers' knot. Figure refers usually to form as established by bounding or enclosing lines: The cube is a solid geometric figure. Shape implies three-dimensional definition that indicates both outline and bulk or mass: "He faced her, a hooded and cloaked shape" (Joseph Conrad).
Configuration stresses the pattern formed by the arrangement of parts within an outline: The map shows the configuration of North America, with its mountains, rivers, and plains. Contour refers especially to the outline of a three-dimensional figure: I traced the contour of the bow with my finger. Profile denotes the outline of something viewed against a background and especially the outline of the human face in side view: The police took a photograph of the mugger's profile.
c.1225, from O.Fr. forme, from L. forma "form, mold, shape, case," origin unknown. One theory holds that it is from Gk. morphe "form, beauty, outward appearance" (see morphine) via Etruscan. Sense of "behavior" is first recorded c.1386. The verb is attested from 1297.
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"
2.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality; "sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there?" [syn: kind]
3.
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"
4.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); "he could barely make out their shapes" [syn: shape]
5.
alternative names for the body of a human being; "Leonardo studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"
6.
the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance; "geometry is the mathematical science of shape" [syn: shape]
7.
the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features"
8.
a printed document with spaces in which to write; "he filled out his tax form"
9.
(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of microorganisms"
10.
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"
11.
a particular mode in which something is manifested; "his resentment took the form of extreme hostility"
12.
(physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary; "the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system" [syn: phase]
13.
a body of students who are taught together; "early morning classes are always sleepy" [syn: class]
14.
an ability to perform well; "he was at the top of his form"; "the team was off form last night"
15.
a life-size dummy used to display clothes [syn: mannequin]
16.
a mold for setting concrete; "they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation"
verb
1.
create (as an entity); "social groups form everywhere"; "They formed a company"
2.
to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"; "The branches made a roof"; "This makes a fine introduction"
3.
develop into a distinctive entity; "our plans began to take shape"
4.
give shape or form to; "shape the dough"; "form the young child's character" [syn: shape]
5.
make something, usually for a specific function; "She molded the rice balls carefully"; "Form cylinders from the dough"; "shape a figure"; "Work the metal into a sword" [syn: shape]
6.
establish or impress firmly in the mind; "We imprint our ideas onto our children" [syn: imprint]
7.
assume a form or shape; "the water formed little beads"
Con*form"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Conforming.] [F. conformer, L. conformare, -formatum; con- + formare to form, forma form. See Form.] To shape in accordance with; to make like; to bring into harmony or agreement with; -- usually with to or unto. Demand of them wherefore they conform not themselves unto the order of the church. --Hooker.
De*form"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deforming.] [L. deformare; de- + formare to form, shape, fr. forma: cf. F. d['e]former. See Form.]1. To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure. Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world. --Shak. 2. To render displeasing; to deprive of comeliness, grace, or perfection; to dishonor. Above those passions that this world deform. --Thomson.
Form\ (f[=o]rm; in senses 8 & 9, often f[=o]rm in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. Firm.]1. 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. The form of his visage was changed. --Dan. iii. 19. And woven close close, both matter, form, and style. --Milton. 2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government. 3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer. Those whom form of laws Condemned to die. --Dryden. 4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form. Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice. --Shak. 5. Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty. The earth was without form and void. --Gen. i. 2. He hath no form nor comeliness. --Is. liii. 2. 6. A shape; an image; a phantom. 7. That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model. 8. A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society. "Ladies of a high form." --Bp. Burnet. 9. The seat or bed of a hare. As in a form sitteth a weary hare. --Chaucer. 10. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase. 11. (Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body. 12. (Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms. 13. (Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid. 14. (Metaph.) 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. 15. 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. 16. (Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant. Good form or Bad form, the general appearance, condition or action, originally of horses, atterwards of persons; as, the members of a boat crew are said to be in good form when they pull together uniformly. The phrases are further used colloquially in description of conduct or manners in society; as, it is not good form to smoke in the presence of a lady.
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