Search Result for "form": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (16)

1. the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something;
- Example: "the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached"
[syn: form, word form, signifier, descriptor]

2. a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality;
- Example: "sculpture is a form of art"
- Example: "what kinds of desserts are there?"
[syn: kind, sort, form, variety]

3. a perceptual structure;
- Example: "the composition presents problems for students of musical form"
- Example: "a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them"
[syn: form, shape, pattern]

4. any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline);
- Example: "he could barely make out their shapes"
[syn: shape, form, configuration, contour, conformation]

5. alternative names for the body of a human being;
- Example: "Leonardo studied the human body"
- Example: "he has a strong physique"
- Example: "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"
[syn: human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure, physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame, form, flesh]

6. the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance;
- Example: "geometry is the mathematical science of shape"
[syn: shape, form]

7. the visual appearance of something or someone;
- Example: "the delicate cast of his features"
[syn: form, shape, cast]

8. a printed document with spaces in which to write;
- Example: "he filled out his tax form"

9. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups;
- Example: "a new strain of microorganisms"
[syn: form, variant, strain, var.]

10. an arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse;
- Example: "the essay was in the form of a dialogue"
- Example: "he first sketches the plot in outline form"

11. a particular mode in which something is manifested;
- Example: "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;
- Example: "the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system"
[syn: phase, form]

13. a body of students who are taught together;
- Example: "early morning classes are always sleepy"
[syn: class, form, grade, course]

14. an ability to perform well;
- Example: "he was at the top of his form"
- Example: "the team was off form last night"

15. a life-size dummy used to display clothes;
[syn: mannequin, manikin, mannikin, manakin, form]

16. a mold for setting concrete;
- Example: "they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation"


VERB (7)

1. create (as an entity);
- Example: "social groups form everywhere"
- Example: "They formed a company"
[syn: form, organize, organise]

2. to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting";
- Example: "The branches made a roof"
- Example: "This makes a fine introduction"
[syn: form, constitute, make]

3. develop into a distinctive entity;
- Example: "our plans began to take shape"
[syn: form, take form, take shape, spring]

4. give shape or form to;
- Example: "shape the dough"
- Example: "form the young child's character"
[syn: shape, form]

5. make something, usually for a specific function;
- Example: "She molded the rice balls carefully"
- Example: "Form cylinders from the dough"
- Example: "shape a figure"
- Example: "Work the metal into a sword"
[syn: shape, form, work, mold, mould, forge]

6. establish or impress firmly in the mind;
- Example: "We imprint our ideas onto our children"
[syn: imprint, form]

7. assume a form or shape;
- Example: "the water formed little beads"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

-form \-form\ [See Form, n.] A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Form \Form\ (f[=o]rm; in senses 8 & 9, often f[=o]rm in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. Firm.] 1. The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration; figure; external appearance. [1913 Webster] The form of his visage was changed. --Dan. iii. 19. [1913 Webster] And woven close close, both matter, form, and style. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government. [1913 Webster] 3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer. [1913 Webster] Those whom form of laws Condemned to die. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form. [1913 Webster] Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty. [1913 Webster] The earth was without form and void. --Gen. i. 2. [1913 Webster] He hath no form nor comeliness. --Is. liii. 2. [1913 Webster] 6. A shape; an image; a phantom. [1913 Webster] 7. That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model. [1913 Webster] 8. A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society. "Ladies of a high form." --Bp. Burnet. [1913 Webster] 9. The seat or bed of a hare. [1913 Webster] As in a form sitteth a weary hare. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 10. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase. [1913 Webster] 11. (Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In (painting), more generally, the human body. [1913 Webster] 12. (Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms. [1913 Webster] 13. (Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid. [1913 Webster] 14. (Metaph.) That assemblage or disposition of qualities which makes a conception, or that internal constitution which makes an existing thing to be what it is; -- called essential or substantial form, and contradistinguished from matter; hence, active or formative nature; law of being or activity; subjectively viewed, an idea; objectively, a law. [1913 Webster] 15. Mode of acting or manifestation to the senses, or the intellect; as, water assumes the form of ice or snow. In modern usage, the elements of a conception furnished by the mind's own activity, as contrasted with its object or condition, which is called the matter; subjectively, a mode of apprehension or belief conceived as dependent on the constitution of the mind; objectively, universal and necessary accompaniments or elements of every object known or thought of. [1913 Webster] 16. (Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant. [1913 Webster] Good form or Bad form, the general appearance, condition or action, originally of horses, afterwards of persons; as, the members of a boat crew are said to be in good form when they pull together uniformly. The phrases are further used colloquially in description of conduct or manners in society; as, it is not good form to smoke in the presence of a lady. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Form \Form\ (f[^o]rm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Formed (f[^o]rmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Forming.] [F. former, L. formare, fr. forma. See Form, n.] 1. To give form or shape to; to frame; to construct; to make; to fashion. [1913 Webster] God formed man of the dust of the ground. --Gen. ii. 7. [1913 Webster] The thought that labors in my forming brain. --Rowe. [1913 Webster] 2. To give a particular shape to; to shape, mold, or fashion into a certain state or condition; to arrange; to adjust; also, to model by instruction and discipline; to mold by influence, etc.; to train. [1913 Webster] 'T is education forms the common mind. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Thus formed for speed, he challenges the wind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 3. To go to make up; to act as constituent of; to be the essential or constitutive elements of; to answer for; to make the shape of; -- said of that out of which anything is formed or constituted, in whole or in part. [1913 Webster] The diplomatic politicians . . . who formed by far the majority. --Burke. [1913 Webster] 4. To provide with a form, as a hare. See Form, n., 9. [1913 Webster] The melancholy hare is formed in brakes and briers. --Drayton. [1913 Webster] 5. (Gram.) To derive by grammatical rules, as by adding the proper suffixes and affixes. [1913 Webster] 6. (Elec.) To treat (plates) so as to bring them to fit condition 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 now the plates or grids are 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. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Form \Form\, v. i. 1. To take a form, definite shape, or arrangement; as, the infantry should form in column. [1913 Webster] 2. To run to a form, as a hare. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] To form on (Mil.), to form a lengthened line with reference to (any given object) as a basis. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

form n 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" [syn: form, word form, signifier, descriptor] 2: a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality; "sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there?" [syn: kind, sort, form, variety] 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" [syn: form, shape, pattern] 4: any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); "he could barely make out their shapes" [syn: shape, form, configuration, contour, conformation] 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" [syn: human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure, physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame, form, flesh] 6: the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance; "geometry is the mathematical science of shape" [syn: shape, form] 7: the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features" [syn: form, shape, cast] 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" [syn: form, variant, strain, var.] 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" [syn: phase, form] 13: a body of students who are taught together; "early morning classes are always sleepy" [syn: class, form, grade, course] 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 [syn: mannequin, manikin, mannikin, manakin, form] 16: a mold for setting concrete; "they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation" v 1: create (as an entity); "social groups form everywhere"; "They formed a company" [syn: form, organize, organise] 2: to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"; "The branches made a roof"; "This makes a fine introduction" [syn: form, constitute, make] 3: develop into a distinctive entity; "our plans began to take shape" [syn: form, take form, take shape, spring] 4: give shape or form to; "shape the dough"; "form the young child's character" [syn: shape, form] 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" [syn: shape, form, work, mold, mould, forge] 6: establish or impress firmly in the mind; "We imprint our ideas onto our children" [syn: imprint, form] 7: assume a form or shape; "the water formed little beads"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

650 Moby Thesaurus words for "form": Berkeleianism, Hegelianism, Kantianism, MO, Masan, Neoplatonism, Platonic form, Platonic idea, Platonism, Procrustean law, SOP, absolute idealism, accumulate, acquire, act, adjustment, algorithm, allocation, allomorph, allotment, anatomy, angle, animatism, animism, apparition, appear, appearance, apportionment, apprentice, approach, architectonics, architecture, arise, arrange, arrangement, array, arraying, aspect, assemble, astral, astral spirit, attack, attitude, background, background detail, bad condition, banshee, bearing, behavior, bienseance, bill, blank, block out, blood, bod, body, body-build, bones, brand, break, break in, breed, bring up, buckram, build, build up, building, built, burrow, bylaw, canon, canon form, carcass, carriage, carve, cast, cave, ceremonial, ceremoniousness, ceremony, character, chirograph, chisel, civility, clan, class, clay, clod, code, codify, coin, collation, collocation, color, combine, come together, commandment, common practice, complexion, compose, composition, compound, comprise, conceive, concoct, condition, conduct, configuration, conformation, conformity, consist of, constitute, constitution, construct, construction, contour, contract, contrive, control, convenance, convention, conventional usage, conventionalism, conventionality, cool off, corpus, correctness, couch, course, covert, create, creation, criterion, crystallize, cultivate, custom, cut, decency, decorative composition, decorative style, decorousness, decorum, decree, den, denomination, departed spirit, deploy, deployment, deportment, description, design, designation, detail, develop, devise, dictate, dictation, dictum, die, dignity, discipline, disembodied spirit, disposal, dispose, disposition, distribution, docket, document, dossier, draw up, dream up, drill, duppy, duty, dybbuk, earth, economy, edict, effect, effectuate, efform, eidolon, elaborate, elevate, embody, enactment, enter into, envisage, envision, erect, establish, etiquette, evolve, exercise, extrinsicality, extrude, fabric, fabricate, fabrication, facet, fall in, fall into line, fall into place, fall into rank, false image, fantasy, fashion, fashioning, feather, feature, fetch up, fettle, figure, file, fit, fix, flesh, foil, foreground detail, forge, forging, form of worship, formality, formalization, formalize, format, formation, formula, formulary, formulate, formulation, foster, found, frame, framework, fudge together, fugue form, function, gather around, general principle, genre, genus, gestalt, get, get up, getup, ghost, go into, golden rule, good condition, good form, grade, grain, grateful dead, gravity, groom, grow, guide, guideline, guiding principle, guise, habit, hant, harmonize, haunt, hew, hierarchize, hole, holograph, holy rite, house-train, housebreak, hulk, hylozoism, idealism, idolum, ilk, image, imagine, imago, immaterialism, immateriality, imperative, impersonality, impression, improve, inaugurate, incept, incorporate, incorporeal, incorporeal being, incorporeity, indite, install, institute, institution, instrument, intaglio, invent, join, jus, kidney, kin, kind, knead, knock out, label, lair, larva, last, law, law of nature, lay out, legal document, legal instrument, legal paper, legislation, lemures, lex, lick into shape, lied form, light, likeness, line, line of action, line up, lineaments, lines, liturgy, lodge, look, lot, make, make up, makeup, making, manes, manifestation, manner, manner of working, manners, manufacture, mark, marshal, marshaling, material, material body, materialization, materialize, matrix, matter of course, mature, maxim, means, measure, merge in, metaphysical idealism, method, methodize, methodology, mew, mint, mirage, mitzvah, mix, mode, mode of operation, mode of procedure, mode of worship, model, modus operandi, mold, molding, monistic idealism, moral, morph, morpheme, morphemics, morphology, motif, mould, mystery, national style, nature, negative, norm, norma, normalize, number, nurse, nurture, observance, office, official document, oni, order, order of nature, order of worship, ordering, ordinance, ordonnance, organic structure, organism, organization, organize, originate, ornamental motif, outline, pacify, panpsychism, paper, papers, parchment, patch together, pattern, patterning, period style, person, personal file, personalism, persuasion, phantasm, phantasma, phantasmagoria, phantom, phase, phasis, phasm, phenomenon, phylum, physical body, physique, piece together, place itself, placement, plan, plot, poltergeist, pomp, pomposity, pose, practice, precept, prefabricate, prepare, prescribed form, prescript, prescription, presence, primary form, primness, principium, principle, procedure, proceeding, process, produce, production, profile, project, propriety, protocol, psychism, punch, put in tune, put to school, put together, put up, quiet, race, raise, rally round, range itself, rank, ready, realize, rear, receipt, recipe, reference, regard, regimen, regimentation, regularize, regulate, regulation, rehearse, repair, repeated figure, respect, revenant, rigidness, rite, ritual, ritual observance, rituality, roll, rondo form, rough out, roughcast, roughhew, routine, routinize, rubric, rule, ruling, run, run up, sacrament, sacramental, scheme, scrip, script, scroll, sculpt, sculpture, seal, seeming, seemliness, semblance, send to school, serve as, service, set, set form, set up, setting, settled principle, setup, shade, shadow, shape, shape up, shaping, shoe last, show up, shrouded spirit, side, silhouette, simulacrum, skeleton, slant, social convention, social usage, solemnity, solipsism, soma, sonata allegro, sonata form, sort, species, specter, spectral ghost, spirit, spiritualism, spook, sprite, stamp, standard, standard operating procedure, standardize, standing order, standing orders, starchiness, state, statute, stiffness, stiltedness, strain, stripe, structure, structuring, style, stylization, subjectivism, symphonic form, syntax, synthesize, system, systematize, tack, tailor, take form, take in hand, take its place, take order, take rank, take shape, technique, tectonics, template, tenet, tenor, texture, the drill, the how, the like of, the likes of, the way of, theme, theophany, thermoform, tint, tissue, toccata form, tone, torso, total effect, touch, track, train, tranquilize, transcendental, tribe, trim, trunk, tunnel, turn, turn out, twist, type, unite in, universal, universal law, unsubstantiality, usage, variety, view, viewpoint, vision, visualize, waking dream, walking dead man, wandering soul, warp and woof, way, weave, web, weight, whomp up, wildest dream, wise, work, working principle, working rule, wraith, writ, write, writing, zombie
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

FORM A system written by Jos Vermaseren in 1989 for fast handling of very large-scale symbolic mathematics problems. FORM is a descendant of Schoonschip and is available for many personal computers and workstations. (ftp://acm.princeton.edu/), (ftp://nikhefh.nikhef.nl/). Mailing list: . (1995-04-12)
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

FORM, practice. The model of an instrument or legal-proceeding, containing the substance and the principal terms, to be used in accordance with the laws; or, it is the act of pursuing, in legal proceedings, and in the construction of legal instruments, the order required by law. Form is usually put in contradistinction to substance. For example, by the operation of the statute of 27 Eliz. c. 5, s. 1, all merely formal defects in pleading, except in dilatory pleas, are aided on general demurrer. 2. The difference between matter of form, and matter of substance, in general, under this statute, as laid down by Lord Hobart, is, that "that without which the right doth sufficiently appear to the court, is form;" but that any defect "by reason whereof the right appears not," is a defect in substance. Hob. 233. 3. A distinction somewhat more definite, is, that if the matter pleaded be in itself insufficient, without reference to the manner of pleading it, the defect is substantial; but that if the fault is in the manner of alleging it, the defect is formal. Dougl. 683. For example, the omission of a consideration in a declaration in assumpsit; or of the performance of a condition precedent, when such condition exists; of a conversion of property of the plaintiff, in trover; of knowledge in the defendant, in an action for mischief done by his dog of malice, in action for malicious prosecution, and the like, are all defects in substance. On the other hand, duplicity; a negative pregnant; argumentative pleading; a special plea, amounting to the general issue; omission of a day, when time is immaterial; of a place, in transitory actions, and the like, are only faults in form. Bac. Ab. Pleas, &c. N 5, 6; Com. Dig. Pleader, Q 7; 10 Co. 95 a; 2 Str. 694 Gould; Pl. c. 9, Sec. 17, 18; 1 Bl. Com. 142. 4. At the same time that fastidious objections against trifling errors of form, arising from mere clerical mistakes, are not encouraged or sanctioned by the courts, it has been justly observed, that "infinite mischief has been produced by the facility of the courts in overlooking matters of form; it encourages carelessness, and places ignorance too much upon a footing with knowledge amongst those who practice the drawing of pleadings." 1 B. & P. 59; 2 Binn. Rep. 434. See, generally, Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t.