external appearance of a clearly defined area, as distinguished from color or material; configuration

a triangular form.

the shape of a thing or person.

a body, esp. that of a human being.

a dummy having the same measurements as a human body, used for fitting or displaying clothing

a dressmaker's form.

something that gives or determines shape; a mold.

a particular condition, character, or mode in which something appears

water in the form of ice.

the manner or style of arranging and coordinating parts for a pleasing or effective result, as in literary or musical composition

a unique form for the novel.

Fine Arts .

the organization, placement, or relationship of basic elements, as lines and colors in a painting or volumes and voids in a sculpture, so as to produce a coherent image; the formal structure of a work of art.

three-dimensional quality or volume, as of a represented object or anatomical part.

an object, person, or part of the human body or the appearance of any of these, esp. as seen in nature

His work is characterized by the radical distortion of the human form.

any assemblage of things of a similar kind constituting a component of a group, especially of a zoological group.

Crystallography . the combination of all the like faces possible on a crystal of given symmetry.

due or proper shape; orderly arrangement of parts; good order.

Philosophy .

the structure, pattern, organization, or essential nature of anything.

structure or pattern as distinguished from matter.

( initial capital letter ) Platonism . idea ( def. 7c ) .

Aristotelianism . that which places a thing in its particular species or kind.

Logic . the abstract relations of terms in a proposition, and of propositions to one another.

a set, prescribed, or customary order or method of doing something.

a set order of words, as for use in religious ritual or in a legal document

a form for initiating new members.

a document with blank spaces to be filled in with particulars before it is executed

a tax form.

a typical document to be used as a guide in framing others for like cases

a form for a deed.

a conventional method of procedure or behavior

society's forms.

a formality or ceremony, often with implication of absence of real meaning

to go through the outward forms of a religious wedding.

procedure according to a set order or method.

conformity to the usages of society; formality; ceremony

the elaborate forms prevalent in the courts of renaissance kings.

procedure or conduct, as judged by social standards

Such behavior is very bad form. Good form demands that we go.

manner or method of performing something; technique

The violin soloist displayed tremendous form.

physical condition or fitness, as for performing

a tennis player in peak form.

Grammar .

a word, part of a word, or group of words forming a construction that recurs in various contexts in a language with relatively constant meaning. Compare linguistic form .

a particular shape of such a form that occurs in more than one shape. In I'm, 'm is a form of am.

a word with a particular inflectional ending or other modification. Goes is a form of go.

Linguistics . the shape or pattern of a word or other construction ( distinguished from substance ).

Building Trades . temporary boarding or sheeting of plywood or metal for giving a desired shape to poured concrete, rammed earth, etc.

a grade or class of pupils in a British secondary school or in certain U.S. private schools

boys in the fourth form.

British . a bench or long seat.

Also, British , forme. Printing . an assemblage of types, leads, etc., secured in a chase to print from.

to construct or frame.

to make or produce.

to serve to make up; serve as; compose; constitute

The remaining members will form the program committee.

to place in order; arrange; organize.

to frame (ideas, opinions, etc.) in the mind.

to contract or develop (habits, friendships, etc.).

to give form or shape to; shape; fashion.

to give a particular form or shape to; fashion in a particular manner

Form the dough into squares.

to mold or develop by discipline or instructions

The sergeant's job was to form boys into men.

Grammar .

to make (a derivation) by some grammatical change

The suffix -ly forms adverbs from adjectives.

to have (a grammatical feature) represented in a particular shape

English forms plurals in -s.

Military . to draw up in lines or in formation.

to take or assume form.

to be formed or produced

Ice began to form on the window.

to take a particular form or arrangement

The ice formed in patches across the window.

noun

shapelessness , disarrangement , disorganization

verb

break , destroy , hurt , ruin , kill , neglect

noun

anatomy , appearance , articulation , cast , configuration , conformation , construction , contour , cut , design , die , embodiment , fashion , figure , formation , framework , mode , model , mold , outline , pattern , plan , profile , scheme , silhouette , skeleton , structure , style , system , being , build , condition , fettle * , fitness , frame , health , object , person , phenomenon , physique , shape , thing , torso , trim * , behavior , by the book , by the numbers * , canon , ceremonial , channels , conduct , convenance , convention , custom , decorum , done thing , etiquette , formality , habit , law , layout , manner , manners , method , practice , precept , proceeding , process , propriety , protocol , regulation , rite , ritual , ropes , rule , setup , usage , way , application , blank , chart , data sheet , letter , paper , questionnaire , sheet , arrangement , character , class , description , grade , guise , make , manifestation , order , rank , semblance , sort , species , stamp , variety , format , harmony , orderliness , placement , proportion , symmetry , ceremony , fettle , kilter , matrix

verb

arrange , assemble , block out , bring about , build , cast , complete , compose , conceive , concoct , constitute , construct , consummate , contrive , cook up * , create , cultivate , cut , design , develop , devise , dream up , erect , establish , fabricate , fashion , finish , fix , forge , found , frame , hammer out * , invent , knock off * , make up , manufacture , model , mold , organize , outline , pattern , perfect , plan , plot , project , put together , scheme , set , set up , shape , structure , throw together , trace , turn out * , work , accumulate , acquire , appear , become a reality , become visible , condense , crystallize , eventuate , fall into place , grow , harden , materialize , mature , rise , settle , shape up , show up , take on character , take shape , breed , bring up , give character , instruct , rear , school , teach , train , act as , figure in , make , serve as , configure