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formation - 7 dictionary results

for⋅ma⋅tion

  [fawr-mey-shuhn]
Use formation in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act or process of forming or the state of being formed: the formation of ice.
2. the manner in which a thing is formed; disposition of parts; formal structure or arrangement.
3. Military.
a. a particular disposition of troops, as in columns, squares, etc.
b. any required assembling of the soldiers of a unit.
4. Geology.
a. a body of rocks classed as a stratigraphic unit for geologic mapping. Compare member (def. 8).
b. the process of depositing rock or mineral of a particular composition or origin.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME formacioun < L fōrmātiōn- (s. of fōrmātiō), equiv. to fōrmāt(us) (see form, -ate 1 ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
for⋅ma⋅tion⋅al, adjective

Synonyms:
1. establishment, founding, organization.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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for·ma·tion   (fôr-mā'shən)   
n.  
  1. The act or process of forming something or of taking form.
  2. Something formed: beautiful cloud formations.
  3. The manner or style in which something is formed; structure: the distinctive formation of the human eye.
  4. A specified arrangement or deployment, as of troops.
  5. Geology The primary unit of lithostratigraphy, consisting of a succession of strata useful for mapping or description.
for·ma'tion·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Formation

For*ma"tion\, n. [L. formatio: cf. F. formation.]

1. The act of giving form or shape to anything; a forming; a shaping. --Beattie.

2. The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation; form; as, the peculiar formation of the heart.

3. A substance formed or deposited.

4. (Geol.) (a) Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers; alluvial formations; marine formations. (b) A group of beds of the same age or period; as, the Eocene formation.

5. (Mil.) The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column, etc. --Farrow.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : formation
Spanish: formación,
German: die Gründung,
Japanese: 組織
More Translations »

formation

See chart formation.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Main Entry: for·ma·tion
Pronunciation: for-'mA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : an act of giving form or shape to something or of takingform : DEVELOPMENT
2 : the manner in which a thing is formed : STRUCTURE formation of the heart>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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formation for·ma·tion (fôr-mā'shən)
n.

  1. The act or process of forming something or of taking form.
  2. Something formed.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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formation   (fôr-mā'shən)  Pronunciation Key 
A long, mappable body of rock that is recognizable by its physical characteristics and by its location within the rock record.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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