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formatted

 - 3 dictionary results

for⋅mat

  [fawr-mat] noun, verb, -mat⋅ted, -mat⋅ting.
Use formatted in a Sentence
–noun
1. the shape and size of a book as determined by the number of times the original sheet has been folded to form the leaves. Compare duodecimo, folio (def. 2), octavo, quarto.
2. the general physical appearance of a book, magazine, or newspaper, such as the typeface, binding, quality of paper, margins, etc.
3. the organization, plan, style, or type of something: The format of the show allowed for topical and controversial gags.
4. Computers. the arrangement of data for computer input or output, such as the number and size of fields in a record or the spacing and punctuation of information in a report.
–verb (used with object)
5. to plan or provide a format for: to format the annual telethon.
6. Computers.
a. to set the format of (input or output): Some word-processing programs format output in a variety of ways.
b. to prepare (a disk) for writing and reading.
–verb (used without object)
7. to devise a format.
Origin:
1830–40; < F < L (liber) fōrmātus (a book) formed (in a certain way)

Related forms:
for⋅mat⋅ter, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To formatted
for·mat   (fôr'māt')   
n.  

  1. A plan for the organization and arrangement of a specified production.

  2. The material form or layout of a publication.

  3. Computer Science

    1. The arrangement of data for storage or display.

    2. A method for achieving such an arrangement.

tr.v.   for·mat·ted, for·mat·ting, for·mats

  1. To plan or arrange in a specified form: They formatted the conference so that each speaker had less than 15 minutes to deliver a paper.

  2. Computer Science

    1. To divide (a disk) into marked sectors so that it may store data.

    2. To determine the arrangement of (data) for storage or display.


[French, ultimately from Latin fōrmātus, past participle of fōrmāre, to form, from fōrma, form.]
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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Word Origin & History

format 
1840, via Fr. & Ger. from Mod.L. liber formatus "a book formed" (in such and such a way), referring to shape, size; from pp. of formare "to form." The verb, used chiefly of computers, is first attested 1964.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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