form (form)

noun

• 1the visible shape or configuration of something: the form, colour, and texture of the tree [mass noun]: the flowers of this shrub are remarkable both in form and colour
• the body or shape of a person or animal: his eyes scanned her slender form
• [mass noun] style, design, and arrangement in an artistic work as distinct from its content: these videos are a triumph of form over content

• 2a particular way in which a thing exists or appears: essays in book form energy in the form of light
• any of the ways in which a word may be spelled, pronounced, or inflected: an adjectival form
• Philosophy the essential nature of a species or thing, especially (in Plato’s thought) regarded as an abstract ideal which real things imitate or participate in.

• 3a type or variety of something: sponsorship is a form of advertising
• an artistic or literary genre: a form is as good as the writer who chooses it
• Botany a taxonomic category that ranks below variety, which contains organisms differing from the typical kind in some trivial, frequently impermanent, character, e.g. a colour variant. Also called forma.

• 4 [mass noun] the customary or correct method or procedure: an excessive concern for legal form and precedent
• [count noun] a ritual or convention: the outward forms of religion
• [count noun] a set order of words; a formula: a form of words

• 5a printed document with blank spaces for information to be inserted: an application form

• 6chiefly British a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number: the fifth form

• 7 [mass noun] the state of a sports player or team with regard to their current standard of play: they are one of the best teams around on current form
• details of previous performances by a racehorse or greyhound: an interested bystander studying the form
• a person’s mood and state of health: she seemed to be on good form
• British informal a criminal record: they both had form

• 8British a long bench without a back.

• 9 Printing, chiefly USvariant spelling of forme.

• 10British a hare’s lair.

• 11another term for shuttering.

verb

• 1bring together parts or combine to create (something): the company was formed in 1982 peasants and miners were formed into a militia
• go to make up or constitute: the precepts which form the basis of the book
• [no object] gradually appear or develop: a thick mist was forming all around
• conceive (an idea) in one’s mind: to form a judgement he seeks further information
• establish (a relationship): the women would form supportive friendships
• articulate (a word or other linguistic unit).
• construct (a new word) by derivation or inflection.

• 2make or be made into a specific shape or form: [with object]: form the dough into balls [no object]: his features formed into a smile of pleasure
• (be formed) have a specified shape: her body was slight and flawlessly formed
• (form people/things up or form up) chiefly Military bring or be brought into a certain formation: Mortimer formed up his troops for the march
• influence (something abstract): the role of the news media in forming public opinion