Meaning & Definition of Form in English

1. 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?"

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"

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"

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"

13. A body of students who are taught together

• "Early morning classes are always sleepy"

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

16. A mold for setting concrete

• "They built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation"

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"

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"

6. Establish or impress firmly in the mind

• "We imprint our ideas onto our children"

7. Assume a form or shape

• "The water formed little beads"