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form Meaning & Definition

/fɔːm/

What Does Form Mean?

Form is a noun that means To do with shape. The shape or visible structure of a thing or person. A thing that gives shape to other things as in a mold. Regularity, beauty, or elegance. The inherent nature of an object; that which the mind itself contributes as the condition of knowing; that in which the essence of a thing consists. Characteristics not involving atomic components. (Can we add an example for this sense?) A long bench with no back. The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body. The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid. It is also used to mean The shape or visible structure of a thing or person. As a verb, it means To assume (a certain shape or visible structure).

Form at a Glance

Part of speechnoun, verb
Pronunciation//fɔːm//
Syllables1
Synonymsconstitute, strain and cast
Antonymsdeform
Pluralforms
Verb formsforms, forming, formed

Form Definition (Noun)

  1. To do with shape. The shape or visible structure of a thing or person. A thing that gives shape to other things as in a mold. Regularity, beauty, or elegance. The inherent nature of an object; that which the mind itself contributes as the condition of knowing; that in which the essence of a thing consists. Characteristics not involving atomic components. (Can we add an example for this sense?) A long bench with no back. The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body. The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
  2. The shape or visible structure of a thing or person.
  3. A thing that gives shape to other things as in a mold.
  4. Regularity, beauty, or elegance.
  5. The inherent nature of an object; that which the mind itself contributes as the condition of knowing; that in which the essence of a thing consists.
  6. Characteristics not involving atomic components. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  7. A long bench with no back.
  8. The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body.
  9. The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
  10. To do with structure or procedure. An order of doing things, as in religious ritual. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system.

    a republican form of government

  11. An order of doing things, as in religious ritual.
  12. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula.
  13. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system.

    a republican form of government

  14. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality.

    a matter of mere form

  15. A class or rank in society.
  16. Past history (in a given area); a habit of doing something.
  17. Level of performance.

    The team's form has been poor this year.

  18. A class or year of school pupils.
  19. A numbered division grouping school students (usually every two years) in education between Years 1 and 13 (often preceded by an ordinal number to specify the form, as in sixth form).
  20. A blank document or template to be filled in by the user.

    To apply for the position, complete the application form.

  21. A specimen document to be copied or imitated.
  22. A grouping of words which maintain grammatical context in different usages; the particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech.

    participial forms;  verb forms

  23. The den or home of a hare.
  24. A window or dialogue box.
  25. An infraspecific rank.
  26. The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.
  27. A quantic.
  28. A specific way of performing a movement.

Form as a Verb

  1. To assume (a certain shape or visible structure).

    When you kids form a straight line I'll hand out the lollies.

  2. To give (a shape or visible structure) to a thing or person.

    Roll out the dough to form a thin sheet.

  3. To take shape.

    When icicles start to form on the eaves you know the roads will be icy.

  4. To put together or bring into being; assemble.

    The socialists did not have enough MPs to form a government.

  5. To create (a word) by inflection or derivation.

    By adding "-ness", you can form a noun from an adjective.

  6. To constitute, to compose, to make up.

    Teenagers form the bulk of extreme traffic offenders.

  7. To mould or model by instruction or discipline.

    Singing in a choir helps to form a child's sociality.

  8. To provide (a hare) with a form.
  9. To treat (plates) to prepare them for introduction into a storage battery, causing one plate to be composed more or less of spongy lead, and the other of lead peroxide. This was formerly done by repeated slow alternations of the charging current, but later the plates or grids were coated or filled, one with a paste of red lead and the other with litharge, introduced into the cell, and formed by a direct charging current.

Noun

  1. (heading, physical) To do with shape.
  2. (social) To do with structure or procedure.
  3. (grammar) A grouping of words which maintain grammatical context in different usages; the particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech.

    participial forms;  verb forms

  4. (fitness) A specific way of performing a movement.

Synonyms of Form

Form synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Form

Form in a Sentence

a republican form of government

a matter of mere form

The team's form has been poor this year.

The orchestra was on top form this evening.

To apply for the position, complete the application form.

participial forms;  verb forms

When you kids form a straight line I'll hand out the lollies.

Roll out the dough to form a thin sheet.

When icicles start to form on the eaves you know the roads will be icy.

The socialists did not have enough MPs to form a government.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon formed The Beatles in Liverpool in 1960.

By adding "-ness", you can form a noun from an adjective.

Teenagers form the bulk of extreme traffic offenders.

Singing in a choir helps to form a child's sociality.

Word Forms & Grammar

form (countable and uncountable, plural forms)

form (third-person singular simple present forms, present participle forming, simple past and past participle formed)

Words That Rhyme With Form

Origin of Form

Origin 1: From Middle English forme (“shape, figure, manner, bench, frame, seat, condition, agreement, etc.”), borrowed from Old French forme, from Latin fōrma (“shape, figure, image, outline, plan, mold, frame, case, etc., manner, sort, kind, etc.”).

Origin 2: In sense "division grouping school students" (now dated), derived from public school nomenclature later adopted by state schools. It is sometimes said to be from the sense of "bench", where students of certain ages would sit together,[1] though this is disputed,[2] or alternatively from the sense of "established method of expression or practice".[3]

How to Pronounce Form

The standard pronunciation of form is //fɔːm//, spoken in 1 syllable.

Quick Answers About Form

Is form a noun or a verb?

Form is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.

What is another word for form?

Words with a similar meaning to form include constitute, strain and cast. See the full list of form synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of form?

The opposite of form is deform.

What is the plural of form?

The plural of form is forms.

What is the past tense of form?

The past tense of form is formed. The present participle is forming.

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