Form | Mean of form in English Dictionary

/ˈfoɚm/

• Noun
• a type or kind of something
1. Coal is a form of carbon.
2. a rare/deadly form of cancer
3. a popular form of entertainment
4. different forms of life = different life forms [=different types of living beings]
5. an ancient form of music
6. an art form
• one of several or many different ways in which something is seen, experienced, or produced
1. The medicine can be taken in the form of a liquid or pill. = The medicine can be taken in pill or liquid form.
2. His essays are now available in book form. [=his essays have been published in a book]
3. the written/spoken form of the language
4. Antisocial behavior can take many forms. [=there are many different types of antisocial behavior]
5. Most of his wealth is in the form of stocks. [=most of his wealth consists of stocks]
• the shape of something
1. the building's massive form
2. a style of architecture that emphasizes form over function

• something that can be seen only as a shape or outline
1. The shadowy forms of several people were visible through the smoke.
• bodily shape
1. the human/female form
• a document with blank spaces for filling in information
1. a tax form
2. an application form
3. fill out a form
• a way of behaving that is judged as proper or improper
1. It's considered bad/poor form to arrive so early. = It's not considered good form to arrive so early. [=it is not proper to arrive so early]
• a manner or style of performing
1. an athlete with good form
2. She would be a better swimmer/golfer if she improved her form.
• condition for performing
1. an athlete in top form [=shape]
• the way in which the parts of a piece of writing or music or of a work of art are arranged
1. the form and content of a poem/essay
2. The sonnet is a poetical form.
3. symphonic forms
• any one of the different ways in which a word may be written or spoken
1. the plural/possessive form of a noun
2. the inflected forms of a verb
• a grade in a British secondary school or in some American private schools
1. students in the sixth form
• to begin to develop
1. a political movement that first took form in the 1960s
2. The new stadium is gradually taking form. [=being built]
• Verb
• to cause (something) to have a particular shape or form
1. She formed [=made] the dough into balls.
• to get, create, or develop (something) over a period of time
1. form a habit
2. The friendship that they formed in school lasted a lifetime.
3. form an opinion
4. Her early experiences played an important role in forming her personality.
5. His ideas were not yet fully formed.
• to begin to exist or to be seen
1. Fog often forms [=develops] in this valley.
2. The drug can help prevent blood clots from forming.
3. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
4. A plan was gradually forming in my mind.
5. A plan was gradually forming itself in my mind.
• to gather together in a group
1. An angry crowd was forming in the streets.
2. insects forming into swarms
• to make or create (something)
1. Water vapor condenses to form clouds.
2. The two traditions have merged to form a new culture.
3. A thin layer of plastic forms a protective coating over the surface.
4. They have formed a council to investigate the incident.
5. form a government/company/coalition/partnership
6. Mix the wet and dry ingredients until they form a paste.
7. Our footprints formed a lovely pattern in the wet sand.
• to be something
1. one of several products that form [=make up, constitute] the foundation/basis of the company's success
2. These principles form [=are] the essence of his philosophy.
3. These books form the backbone of his collection.
• to be arranged in (a shape)
1. The chairs formed a semicircle.
2. a substance capable of forming different shapes
3. The dancers formed a line. = The dancers formed themselves into a line.