FORM

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does form mean? 

• FORM (noun)
  The noun FORM has 16 senses:

1. the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

2. a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

3. a perceptual structure

4. any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

5. alternative names for the body of a human being

6. the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance

7. the visual appearance of something or someone

8. a printed document with spaces in which to write

9. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups

10. an arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse

11. a particular mode in which something is manifested

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

13. a body of students who are taught together

14. an ability to perform well

15. a life-size dummy used to display clothes

16. a mold for setting concrete

  Familiarity information: FORM used as a noun is very familiar.

• FORM (verb)
  The verb FORM has 7 senses:

1. create (as an entity)

2. to compose or represent

3. develop into a distinctive entity

4. give shape or form to

5. make something, usually for a specific function

6. establish or impress firmly in the mind

7. assume a form or shape

  Familiarity information: FORM used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

descriptor; form; signifier; word form

Context example:

the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)

Domain category:

linguistics (the scientific study of language)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

singular; singular form (the form of a word that is used to denote a singleton)

ghost word (a word form that has entered the language through the perpetuation of an error)

base; radical; root; root word; stem; theme ((linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed)

etymon; root (a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes)

citation form; entry word; main entry word (the form of a word that heads a lexical entry and is alphabetized in a dictionary)

abbreviation (a shortened form of a word or phrase)

acronym; initialism (a word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name and pronounced as one word)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

form; kind; sort; variety

Context example:

what kinds of desserts are there?

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

category (a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

description (sort or variety)

type (a subdivision of a particular kind of thing)

antitype (an opposite or contrasting type)

art form ((architecture) a form of artistic expression (such as writing or painting or architecture))

style (a particular kind (as to appearance))

flavor; flavour ((physics) the six kinds of quarks)

color; colour ((physics) the characteristic of quarks that determines their role in the strong interaction)

species (a specific kind of something)

genus (a general kind of something)

brand; make (a recognizable kind)

genre (a kind of literary or artistic work)

ilk; like (a kind of person)

manner (a kind)

model (a type of product)

stripe (a kind or category)

like; the like; the likes of (a similar kind)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A perceptual structure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

form; pattern; shape

Context example:

a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

structure (the complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

fractal ((mathematics) a geometric pattern that is repeated at every scale and so cannot be represented by classical geometry)

gestalt (a configuration or pattern of elements so unified as a whole that it cannot be described merely as a sum of its parts)

grid (a pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines)

kaleidoscope (a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes)

mosaic (a pattern resembling a mosaic)

strand (a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole)

Holonyms ("form" is a part of...):

percept; perception; perceptual experience (the representation of what is perceived; basic component in the formation of a concept)

Derivation:

form (give shape or form to)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

configuration; conformation; contour; form; shape

Context example:

he could barely make out their shapes

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

spatial property; spatiality (any property relating to or occupying space)

Attribute:

straight (having no deviations)

crooked (having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

keenness; sharpness (thinness of edge or fineness of point)

bluntness; dullness (without sharpness or clearness of edge or point)

topography (the configuration of a surface and the relations among its man-made and natural features)

lobularity (the property of having lobules)

concaveness; concavity (the property possessed by a concave shape)

convexity; convexness (the property possessed by a convex shape)

angularity (the property possessed by a shape that has angles)

narrowing (an instance of becoming narrow)

curvature; curve (the property possessed by the curving of a line or surface)

roundness (the property possessed by a line or surface that is curved and not angular)

straightness (freedom from crooks or curves or bends or angles)

crookedness (having or distinguished by crooks or curves or bends or angles)

stratification (a layered configuration)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Alternative names for the body of a human being

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

anatomy; bod; build; chassis; figure; flesh; form; frame; human body; material body; physical body; physique; shape; soma

Context example:

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

body; organic structure (the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

person (a human body (usually including the clothing))

juvenile body (the body of a young person)

adult body (the body of an adult human being)

male body (the body of a male human being)

female body (the body of a female human being)

Holonyms ("form" is a part of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

homo; human; human being; man (any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae characterized by superior intelligence, articulate speech, and erect carriage)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance

Classified under:

Nouns with no superordinates

Synonyms:

form; shape

Context example:

geometry is the mathematical science of shape

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

attribute (an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

solid (a three-dimensional shape)

plane; sheet ((mathematics) an unbounded two-dimensional shape)

natural shape (a shape created by natural forces; not man-made)

flair; flare (a shape that spreads outward)

figure (a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape)

line (a length (straight or curved) without breadth or thickness; the trace of a moving point)

angular shape; angularity (a shape having one or more sharp angles)

round shape (a shape that is curved and without sharp angles)

distorted shape; distortion (a shape resulting from distortion)

amorphous shape (an ill-defined or arbitrary shape)

connection; connexion; link (a connecting shape)

circle (something approximating the shape of a circle)

square (something approximating the shape of a square)

triangle (something approximating the shape of a triangle)

column; pillar; tower (anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower)

plume (anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The visual appearance of something or someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

cast; form; shape

Context example:

the delicate cast of his features

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

appearance; visual aspect (outward or visible aspect of a person or thing)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A printed document with spaces in which to write

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he filled out his tax form

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

document; papers; written document (writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature))

Meronyms (parts of "form"):

blank space; place; space (a blank area)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

application form (a form to use when making an application)

claim form (a form to use when filing a claim)

order form (a form to use when placing an order)

questionnaire (a form containing a set of questions; submitted to people to gain statistical information)

requisition; requisition form (an official form on which a request in made)

tax form (a form to use when paying your taxes)

telegraph form (a form to use when sending a telegram)

Sense 9

Meaning:

(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

form; strain; var.; variant

Context example:

a new strain of microorganisms

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

taxon; taxonomic category; taxonomic group (animal or plant group having natural relations)

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Holonyms ("form" is a member of...):

species ((biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed)

Sense 10

Meaning:

An arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he first sketches the plot in outline form

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

genre; literary genre; writing style (a style of expressing yourself in writing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

versification (the form or metrical composition of a poem)

Derivation:

form (to compose or represent)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A particular mode in which something is manifested

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

his resentment took the form of extreme hostility

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

fashion; manner; mode; style; way (how something is done or how it happens)

Sense 12

Meaning:

(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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

form; phase

Context example:

the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

state; state of matter ((chemistry) the three traditional states of matter are solids (fixed shape and volume) and liquids (fixed volume and shaped by the container) and gases (filling the container))

Domain category:

physical chemistry (the branch of chemistry dealing with the physical properties of chemical substances)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

dispersed particles; dispersed phase ((of colloids) a substance in the colloidal state)

dispersing medium; dispersing phase; dispersion medium ((of colloids) a substance in which another is colloidally dispersed)

Sense 13

Meaning:

A body of students who are taught together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

class; course; form; grade

Context example:

early morning classes are always sleepy

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

assemblage; gathering (a group of persons together in one place)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "form"):

master class (a class (especially in music) given to talented students by an expert)

discussion section; section (a small class of students who are part of a larger course but are taught separately)

Sense 14

Meaning:

An ability to perform well

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the team was off form last night

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

ability (the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment)

Sense 15

Meaning:

A life-size dummy used to display clothes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

form; manakin; manikin; mannequin; mannikin

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

dummy (a figure representing the human form)

Sense 16

Meaning:

A mold for setting concrete

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation

Hypernyms ("form" is a kind of...):

cast; mold; mould (container into which liquid is poured to create a given shape when it hardens)

Derivation:

form (make something, usually for a specific function)

form (give shape or form to)

• FORM (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Create (as an entity)

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

form; organise; organize

Context example:

They formed a company

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "form"):

regroup; reorganise; reorganize (organize anew, as after a setback)

choose up (form sides, as for a game)

draw up (form or arrange in order or formation, as of a body of soldiers)

regiment (form (military personnel) into a regiment)

syndicate (organize into or form a syndicate)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

formation (the act of forming or establishing something)

formation (an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

To compose or represent

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

constitute; form; make

Context example:

This makes a fine introduction

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

be; comprise; constitute; make up; represent (form or compose)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "form"):

chelate (form a chelate, in chemistry)

add (constitute an addition)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

form (an arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Develop into a distinctive entity

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

form; spring; take form; take shape

Context example:

our plans began to take shape

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

become (come into existence)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "form"):

regenerate (be formed or shaped anew)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

formation (creation by mental activity)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Give shape or form to

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

form; shape

Context example:

form the young child's character

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "form"):

individuate (give individual shape or form to)

tie (form a knot or bow in)

terrace (make into terraces as for cultivation)

fork (shape like a fork)

tabulate (shape or cut with a flat surface)

dimension (shape or form to required dimensions)

roll (shape by rolling)

draw (flatten, stretch, or mold metal or glass, by rolling or by pulling it through a die or by stretching)

strike (cause to form (an electric arc) between electrodes of an arc lamp)

crystalise; crystalize; crystallise; crystallize (cause to take on a definite and clear shape)

twist (form into twists)

sliver (form into slivers)

ridge (form into a ridge)

plume (form a plume)

round; round off; round out (make round)

scallop; scollop (shape or cut in scallops)

square; square up (make square)

dish (make concave; shape like a dish)

fit (make fit)

flatten (make flat or flatter)

deform; distort; strain (alter the shape of (something) by stress)

blow (shape by blowing)

block (shape into a block or blocks)

block (shape by using a block)

cup (form into the shape of a cup)

circle; encircle (form or draw a circle around)

turn (shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

form (a mold for setting concrete)

form (a perceptual structure)

formation (the act of fabricating something in a particular shape)

formation (a particular spatial arrangement)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make something, usually for a specific function

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work

Context example:

Work the metal into a sword

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

create from raw material; create from raw stuff (make from scratch)

Verb group:

process; work; work on (shape, form, or improve a material)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "form"):

carve (form by carving)

swage; upset (form metals with a swage)

chip (form by chipping)

layer (make or form a layer)

cut out (form and create by cutting out)

machine (turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery)

grind (shape or form by grinding)

stamp (form or cut out with a mold, form, or die)

puddle (subject to puddling or form by puddling)

beat (shape by beating)

preform (form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand)

preform (form into a shape resembling the final, desired one)

mound (form into a rounded elevation)

hill (form into a hill)

roughcast (shape roughly)

remold; reshape (shape again or shape differently)

sinter (cause (ores or powdery metals) to become a coherent mass by heating without melting)

cast; mold; mould (form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold)

throw (make on a potter's wheel)

coil; hand-build; handbuild (make without a potter's wheel)

sculpt; sculpture (create by shaping stone or wood or any other hard material)

model; mold; mould (form in clay, wax, etc)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

form (a mold for setting concrete)

formation (a particular spatial arrangement)

formation (the act of fabricating something in a particular shape)

formation (the act of forming or establishing something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Establish or impress firmly in the mind

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

form; imprint

Context example:

We imprint our ideas onto our children

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

act upon; influence; work (have and exert influence or effect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something on somebody

Derivation:

formative (forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Assume a form or shape

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

the water formed little beads

Hypernyms (to "form" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "form"):

constellate (form a constellation or cluster)

culminate (rise to, or form, a summit)

grain; granulate (form into grains)

conglobate; conglobe (assume a globular shape)

bunch; bundle; clump; cluster (gather or cause to gather into a cluster)

brecciate (form into breccia)

reticulate (divide so as to form a network)

flake (form into flakes)

head (form a head or come or grow to a head)

bead (form into beads, as of water or sweat, for example)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

 Context examples 

Having once recognized, however, that the symbols stood for letters, and having applied the rules which guide us in all forms of secret writings, the solution was easy enough.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Perhaps you have yourself formed some opinion?

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She judged it to be a form of St. Vitus's dance, and she feared the extent to which its ravages might go.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He resolved to get a tooth-brush and form the habit.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Before I proceed to give an account of my leaving this kingdom, it may be proper to inform the reader of a private intrigue which had been for two months forming against me.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

They certainly confirm the very high opinion which I had formed of his abilities.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She buried her head on my shoulder, her frail form shaken with a storm of weeping.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

And as condition, in his eyes, had the seeming of form, so he entered into what had been wall to him and bathed in the substance that composed it.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

There was no mistaking the angular form of Professor Summerlee.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)