form (fôrm)

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[Middle English forme, from Latin fōrma.]

noun 

1. 1. The shape and structure of an object.
   2. The body or outward appearance of a person or an animal considered separately from the face or head; figure.
2. 1. The essence of something.
   2. The mode in which a thing exists, acts, or manifests itself; kind: a form of animal life; a form of blackmail.
3. 1. Procedure as determined or governed by regulation or custom.
   2. A fixed order of words or procedures, as for use in a ceremony; a formula.
4. A document with blanks for the insertion of details or information: insurance forms.
5. 1. Manners or conduct as governed by etiquette, decorum, or custom.
   2. Behavior according to a fixed or accepted standard: Tardiness is considered bad form.
   3. Performance considered with regard to acknowledged criteria: a good jump shooter having an unusual form.
6. 1. Proven ability to perform: a musician at the top of her form.
   2. Fitness, as of an athlete or animal, with regard to health or training.
   3. The past performance of a racehorse.
   4. A racing form.
7. 1. 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.
   2. A particular type or example of such arrangement: The essay is a literary form.
   3. The design, structure, or pattern of a work of art: symphonic form.
8. 1. A mold for the setting of concrete.
   2. A model of the human figure or part of it used for displaying clothes.
   3. A proportioned model that may be adjusted for fitting clothes.
9. A grade in a British secondary school or in some American private schools: the sixth form.
10. 1. A linguistic form.
    2. The external aspect of words with regard to their inflections, pronunciation, or spelling.
11. 1. Chiefly British A long seat; a bench.
    2. The resting place of a hare.
12. Botany A subdivision of a variety usually differing in one trivial characteristic, such as flower color.

verb: formed, form·ing, forms. 

transitive verb 

1. 1. To give form to; shape: form clay into figures.
   2. To develop in the mind; conceive: form an opinion.
2. 1. To shape or mold (dough, for example) into a particular form.
   2. To arrange oneself in: Holding out his arms, the cheerleader formed a T. The acrobats formed a pyramid.
   3. To organize or arrange: The environmentalists formed their own party.
   4. To fashion, train, or develop by instruction or precept: form a child's mind.
3. To come to have; develop or acquire: form a habit.
4. To constitute or compose a usually basic element, part, or characteristic of.
5. 1. To produce (a tense, for example) by inflection: form the pluperfect.
   2. To make (a word) by derivation or composition.
6. To put in order; arrange.

intransitive verb 

1. To become formed or shaped.
2. To come into being by taking form; arise.
3. To assume a specified form, shape, or pattern.

derivatives

forḿa·biĺi·ty

noun

forḿa·ble

adjective

synonyms:

form, figure, shape, configuration, contour, profile 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.