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noun

  • The phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something.
    • usage: "the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached"
  • A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality.
    • usage: "sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there"
  • A perceptual structure.
    • usage: "the composition presents problems for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them"
  • Any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline. )
    • usage: "he could barely make out their shapes"
  • Alternative names for the body of a human being.
    • usage: "Leonardo studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"
  • The spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance.
    • usage: "geometry is the mathematical science of shape"
  • The visual appearance of something or someone.
    • usage: "the delicate cast of his features"
  • A printed document with spaces in which to write.
    • usage: "he filled out his tax form"
  • Biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups. (
    • usage: "a new strain of microorganisms"
  • An arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse.
    • usage: "the essay was in the form of a dialogue"; "he first sketches the plot in outline form"
  • A particular mode in which something is manifested.
    • usage: "his resentment took the form of extreme hostility"
  • 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)
    • usage: "the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system"
  • A body of students who are taught together.
    • usage: "early morning classes are always sleepy"
  • An ability to perform well.
    • usage: "he was at the top of his form"; "the team was off form last night"
  • A life-size dummy used to display clothes.
  • A mold for setting concrete.
    • usage: "they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation"

verb

  • Create (as an entity. )
    • usage: "social groups form everywhere"; "They formed a company"
  • (v.) ()
  • Develop into a distinctive entity.
    • usage: "our plans began to take shape"
  • Give shape or form to.
    • usage: "shape the dough"; "form the young child's character"
  • Make something, usually for a specific function.
    • usage: "She molded the rice balls carefully"; "Form cylinders from the dough"; "shape a figure"; "Work the metal into a sword"
  • Establish or impress firmly in the mind.
    • usage: "We imprint our ideas onto our children"
  • Assume a form or shape.
    • usage: "the water formed little beads"
by WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
by Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary