Webster's English Dictionary

form

Cross references:
  1. content                2. make                  
 
1. form \'fo.(*)rm\ n [ME forme, fr. OF, fr. L forma] 1a: the shape and 
   structure of something as distinguished from its material  1b: a body (as 
   of a person) esp. in its external appearance or as distingui shed from the 
   face archaic  1c: BEAUTY  2: the essential nature of a thing as 
   distinguished from its matter : as  2a: IDEA  2b: the component of a thing 
   that determines its kind  3a: established method of expression or 
   proceeding : procedure according  to rule or rote 3b: a prescribed and set 
   order of words : FORMULA  4: a printed or typed document with blank spaces 
   for insertion of required  or requested information {tax ~} 5a: conduct 
   regulated by extraneous controls (as of custom or etiquette) :: CEREMONY, 
   CONVENTIONALITY; sometimes : show without substance 5b: manner or style of 
   performing or accomplishing according to recognized  standards of technique 
   6a: the resting place of a hare  6b: a long seat : BENCH  7a: a supporting 
   frame model of the human figure used for displaying clothe s 7b: a mold in 
   which concrete is placed to set  8: the printing type or other matter 
   arranged and secured in a chase ready  for printing 9: one of the different 
   modes of existence, action, or manifestation of a p articular thing or 
   substance : KIND, SORT, VARIETY 10a: orderly method of arrangement (as in 
   the presentation of ideas) : ma nner of coordinating elements (as of an 
   artistic production or course of reasoning); sometimes : a particular kind 
   or instance of such arrangement {the sonnet is a poetical ~} 10b: PATTERN, 
   SCHEMA {arguments of the same logical ~> 10c: the structural element, plan, 
   or design of a work of art  10d: a visible and measurable unit defined by a 
   contour : a bounded surfa ce or volume 11: a grade in a British secondary 
   school or in some American private schoo ls 12a: known ability to perform  
   12b: condition suitable for performing (as in athletic competition)  13a: 
   LINGUISTIC FORM  13b: one of the different aspects a word may take as a 
   result of inflection  or change of spelling or pronunciation {verbal 
   ~s}FORM usu. suggests reference to both internal structure and external 
   outline and often the principle that gives unity to the whole; FIGURE 
   applies chiefly to the form as determined by bounding or enclosing lines; 
   SHAPE like FIGURE suggests an outline but carries a stronger implication of 
   the enclosed body or mass; CONFORMATION implies structure composed of 
   related parts; CONFIGURATION refers to the disposition and arrangement of 
   component parts SYN syn FIGURE, SHAPE, CONFORMATION, CONFIGURATION: 
2. form vt 1: to give form or shape to : FASHION  2a: to give a particular 
   shape to : shape or mold into a certain state o r after a particular model 
   : ARRANGE 2b: to model by instruction and discipline {a mind ~ed by cl 
   assical education} 3: DEVELOP, ACQUIRE {~ a habit}  4: to serve to make up 
   or constitute : be a usu. essential or basic elem ent of 5a: to assume an 
   inflection so as to produce (as a tense) {~sX the past in -ed} 5b: to 
   combine to make (a compound word)  5c: to make up : CONSTITUTE {~ a clause} 
    6: to arrange in order : draw up  1: to become formed or shaped  2: to 
   take form : come into existence : ARISE  3: to take on a definite form, 
   shape, or arrangement  : to take up a formation next to  - form on