form en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /fɔːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- [fo̞ɹm] (General-American)
- /fɔɹm/ (General-American)
- /fo(ː)ɹm/ without the horse–hoarse merger, rhotic
- fôrm (General-American)
- fôrm (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English forme (“shape, figure, manner, bench, frame, seat, condition, agreement, etc.”), borrowed from Old French forme, from Latin fōrma (“shape, figure, image, outline, plan, mold, frame, case, etc., manner, sort, kind, etc.”). In sense "division grouping school students" (now dated), derived from public school nomenclature later adopted by state schools. It is sometimes said to be from the sense of "bench", where students of certain ages would sit together, though this is disputed, or alternatively from the sense of "established method of expression or practice".
Meanings
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(countable, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ The shape or visible structure of a thing or person.
As towns continue to grow, replanting vegetation has become a form of urban utopia and green roofs are spreading fast. Last year 1m square metres of plant-covered roofing was built in France, as much as in the US, and 10 times more than in Germany, the pioneer in this field.
2013 May 10, Audrey Garric, “Urban canopies let nature bloom”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 22, page 30:The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom.[…]Roaring, leaping, pouncing, the tempest raged about the wanderers, drowning and blotting out their forms with sandy spume.
1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid:Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
1699, William Temple, Heads designed for an essay on conversations:
- (countable, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ A thing that gives shape to other things as in a mold.
- (countable, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ Regularity, beauty, or elegance.
- (countable, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ The inherent nature of an object; that which the mind itself contributes as the condition of knowing; that in which the essence of a thing consists.
- (countable, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ Characteristics not involving atomic components.
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(countable, dated, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ A long bench with no back.
And there with syr Launcelot wrapped his mantel aboute his arme wel and surely and by thenne they had geten a grete fourme oute of the halle and there with all they rasshed at the dore […].
1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XX, Chapter iv, leaf 401v:I can see the old schoolroom yet: the broken-down desks and the worn-out forms with knots in that got stuck into your backside[…].
1981, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 10:In the hall. One large table, with frame. 10s. ij cobbordes 8s. j fourme, j chaire, and j kenninge measure, 12d.
1585–1586 January 18, chapter LXIII, in [William Greenwell], editor, Wills and Inventories from the Registry at Durham. Part II (The Publications of the Surtees Society; XXXVIII), Durham: George Andrews, Durham; London: Whittaker and Co.; T. and W. Boone; Edinburgh: Blackwood and Sons, published 1860, →OCLC, page 132:The prefect grabbed me by the shoulders and steered me down a passageway, and down another and finally through a door that led into a long, low dining-room crowded with loudly breakfasting boys sitting on long, shiny oak forms, as benches used to be called.
2010, Stephen Fry, The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography:
- (countable, physical, qualifier:fine arts, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body.
- (countable, physical, uncountable) To do with shape. ▸ The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.
- (countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ An order of doing things, as in religious ritual.
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(countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula.
Those whom form of laws Condemned to die.
1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:[H]e sprang into the road, without previously going through the empty form of advising the driver of his intention, to pick [his hat] up.
1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle:
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(countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system.
a republican form of government
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(countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality.
Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice.
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii]:a matter of mere form
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(archaic, countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ A class or rank in society.
ladies of a high form
a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, edited by [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC:
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(UK, countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ Past history (in a given area); a habit of doing something.
As for the notion that it’s not how Sunak would have won, that doesn’t mean a whole lot coming from a guy whose recent form includes losing to Liz Truss.
2023 July 4, Marina Hyde, “Who’s for political Bazball with Rishi? Voters? Tories? Anyone?”, in The Guardian:It's fair to say she has form on this: she has criticised David Cameron's proposal to create all-women shortlists for prospective MPs, tried to ban women wearing high heels at work as the resulting pain made them take time off work, and tried to reduce the point at which an abortion can take place from 24 to 21 weeks.
2011 May 4, Jane Martinson, The Guardian:
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(countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ Level of performance.
The orchestra was on top form this evening.
The team's form has been poor this year.
- (UK, countable, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ A class or year of school pupils.
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(UK, countable, dated, qualifier:social, uncountable) To do with structure or procedure. ▸ A numbered division grouping school students (usually every two years) in education between Years 1 and 13 (often preceded by an ordinal number to specify the form, as in sixth form).
I am a very weak, insufficient scholar, sitting on the lowest form in Thy great school-house, which is the whole world, and trying to spell out the mere letters of Thy alphabet […]
1880, Charles Kingsley, Out of the Deep: Words for the Sorrowful, London: Macmillan & Co., page 190:One other day after afternoon school, Mr. Percival came behind me and put his hand on me. "Let me see, what's your name? Which form are you in?[…]"
1928, George Bickerstaff, The mayor, and other folk:From the sixth form will come the scholars and the administrators.
1976, Ronald King, School and college: studies of post-sixteen education:Nathaniel: Maister, there is nobody to teach in the sixth form. Maister: What a thing is this? N: He is sick in bed. M: How do you know? N: One of the scholars in his house told me so.
1653, Corderius, Colloquia scholastica Anglo-Latina, […] 1653, page 220:
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(countable, uncountable) A blank document or template to be filled in by the user.
To apply for the position, complete the application form.
- (countable, uncountable) A specimen document to be copied or imitated.
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(countable, uncountable) A grouping of words which maintain grammatical context in different usages; the particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech.
participial forms; verb forms
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(countable, uncountable) The den or home of a hare.
Being one day a hunting, I found a Hare sitting in her forme[…].
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 29, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:The Egyptians therefore in their hieroglyphics expressed a melancholy man by a hare sitting in her form, as being a most timorous and solitary creature.
, I.iii.1.2Hares left their snug ‘forms’ in the cold grass.
1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 275:
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(countable, uncountable) A window or dialogue box.
While it is quite amazing how much one can do with Visual Basic with the code attached to a single form, to take full advantage of VB you'll need to start using multiple forms and having the code on all the forms in your project interact.
1998, Gary Cornell, Visual Basic 6 from the ground up, page 426:Throughout this chapter we will work with a form in a new project.
2010, Neil Smyth, C# Essentials:
- (countable, uncountable) An infraspecific rank.
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(countable, historical, uncountable) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.
And the form is inked, the paper is applied, the bed is slid, and the platen is levered down and the proof is printed.
2010, Andrea Levy, The Long Song, Tinder Press (2017), page 382:
- (countable, uncountable) A quantic.
- (countable, qualifier:fitness, uncountable) A specific way of performing a movement.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| forme | alternative | lexicographic | |
| forms | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
bedform · jumpform · V-form · ur-form · formful · eigenform · newform · form-fitting · form factor · absolute form · sideform · preform · waveform · form taxon · T-form · standard form · sonata-allegro form · differential form · metalloform · closing form · planform · polyform · true to form · ABA form · vertex form · form book · formless · multilinear form · in form · prenex normal form · springform · bad form · Sturm-Liouville form · ing-form · clausal normal form · value-form · life-form · formstone · return to form · book form · bioform · hesitation form · antiform · lupoid form of groin ulceration · form genus · free form · on form · first normal form · formline · normal form game · combining form · extraordinary form · thoughtform · free-form · nanoform · godform · prime form · in any shape or form · lifeform · attack is the best form of defense · microform · form of government · normal form · printing form · column echelon form · landform · long-form · malform · attack is the best form of defence · cytoform · nitroform · thermoform · form room · pet form · short form · crudeform · bound form · G-form · formwork · canonical form · best form lens · first fundamental form · sixth form college · form constant · fourth normal form · third normal form · form setter · protoform · collateral form · count form · thought-form · by-form · formbook · back-form · application form · second normal form · racing form · ternary form · ring sum normal form · Boyce-Codd normal form · outform · one-form · dictionary form · Killing form · breast form · good form · wordform · art form · echelon form · handform · claim form · algebraic normal form · form of address · synform · sonata form · rise form · formfilling · cloudform · logical form · in rare form · dress form · ordinary form · letterform · megaform · canonical disjunctive normal form · Girard form class · Carlson symmetric form · midseason form · arc-form pearly mussel · two-form · formfactor · formlike · alloform · quadratic form · form genera · fifth normal form · expanded form · geoform · cusp form · modular form · phosphoform · on rare form · extensive form game · form-room · typeform · isoform · citation form · apoform · Extraordinary Form · pseudoform · imitation is the sincerest form of flattery · formwise · closed form · row echelon form · beamform · bilinear form · crude form · basic form · e-form · order form · foreform · splice form · reduced row echelon form · form letter · V form · underlying form · Backus-Naur form · form class · argument-form · wireform · canonical conjunctive normal form · form filling · T form · byform · leuco form · interform · sialoform · point form · turn something into an art form · growth form · logic form · form criticism · conjunctive normal form · mid-season form · xform · poor form · morphoform · longform · presentation form · webform · mid season form · linear form · glycoform · multiform · disjunctive normal form · Backus normal form · in full form · postform · slipform · have form · Legendre form · out of form · subform · form feed · life form · base form · pro-form · verbform · argument form · shortform · form-critical · polynomial form · formfitting · re-form
Descendants
Relateds
inform · formulation · formulate · formula · formulaic · formal
Synonyms
figure (visible structure of a person) · pattern (thing that gives shape to other things) · shape (visible structure of a thing or person) · configuration (mode of construction) · makeup · mold (thing that gives shape to other things) · cast (thing that gives shape to other things) · f. · formular (blank document) · cookie cutter (thing that gives shape to other things) · grade (pre-collegiate level)
Translations (234)
el σχήμα (shape or visible structure) · pl formularz (document to be filled in) · ja 用紙 (document to be filled in) · th แบบฟอร์ม (document to be filled in) · ja 形状 (shape or visible structure) · ht fòm (shape or visible structure) · et blankett (document to be filled in) · bg фо́рма (document to be filled in) · ka ფორმულარი (document to be filled in) · sh форму̀ла̄р (document to be filled in) · es forma (shape or visible structure) · enm forme (grouping of words) · ast forma (shape or visible structure) · he טֹפֶס \ טופס (document to be filled in) · be фо́рма (document to be filled in) · pt forma (shape or visible structure) · vi hình thức (shape or visible structure) · sl obrazec (document to be filled in) · hi आकार (shape or visible structure) · bn অবয়ব (shape or visible structure) · cs forma (shape or visible structure) · ko 표 (document to be filled in) · gl feitura (shape or visible structure) · is eyðublað (document to be filled in) · ur آکار (shape or visible structure) · bn পত্র (document to be filled in) · grc εἶδος (shape or visible structure) · el αίτηση (document to be filled in) · jv rupa (shape or visible structure) · vi hình dáng (shape or visible structure) · ar اِسْتِمَارَة (document to be filled in) · hi रूप (shape or visible structure) · ru формуля́р (document to be filled in) · prs وَرَقِ رَسْمِی (document to be filled in) · cy ffurf (shape or visible structure) · ru фигу́ра (shape or visible structure) · fa-ira شَکْل (shape or visible structure) · uk формуля́р (document to be filled in) · mi āhua (shape or visible structure) · be фармуля́р (document to be filled in) · fa-ira دیسِه (shape or visible structure) · ru бланк (document to be filled in) · az blank (document to be filled in) · tg сурат (shape or visible structure) · ur رُوپ (shape or visible structure) · kk бланк (document to be filled in) · ne रूप (shape or visible structure) · ca forma (shape or visible structure) · ms bentuk (shape or visible structure) · fa-ira فُرْم (shape or visible structure) · ky нысандама (document to be filled in) · tk blank (document to be filled in) · vi mẫu đơn (document to be filled in) · gl forma (shape or visible structure) · uz anketa (document to be filled in) · vi dạng (grouping of words) · ar صُورَة (shape or visible structure) · fa-ira پُرْسِشنامِه (document to be filled in) · vi hình dạng (shape or visible structure) · gd dèanamh (shape or visible structure) · gl formulario (document to be filled in) · ca formulari (document to be filled in) · uz shakl (shape or visible structure) · ko 용지 (document to be filled in) · de Gestalt (shape or visible structure) · uk бланк (document to be filled in) · cmn 表 (document to be filled in) · he צורה (shape or visible structure) · id borang (document to be filled in) · sa रूप (shape or visible structure) · mi puka (document to be filled in) · gd cruth (shape or visible structure) · sk forma (shape or visible structure) · sv form (shape or visible structure) · nl formulier (document to be filled in) · tg бланк (document to be filled in) · bg фо́рма (shape or visible structure) · be анке́та (document to be filled in) · be фо́рма (shape or visible structure) · bn ফর্ম (document to be filled in) · ain ノカ (shape or visible structure) · ka ბლანკი (document to be filled in) · ur عَرْضی (document to be filled in) · ga foirm (shape or visible structure) · uz blank (document to be filled in) · fa-ira فُرْم (document to be filled in) · hi शक्ल (shape or visible structure) · fi kaavake (document to be filled in) · km ទម្រង់ (shape or visible structure) · ia forma (shape or visible structure) · id formulir (document to be filled in) · uz formulyar (document to be filled in) · ru фо́рма (grouping of words) · vi biểu mẫu (document to be filled in) · ru анке́та (document to be filled in) · ko 형식 (shape or visible structure) · ka ანკეტა (document to be filled in) · enm kynde (shape or visible structure) · uk анке́та (document to be filled in) · ug شەكىل (shape or visible structure) · uz forma (shape or visible structure) · ro formular (document to be filled in) · grc μορφή (shape or visible structure) · nrf forme (shape or visible structure) · vi hình thái (grouping of words) · af vorm (document to be filled in) · io formo (shape or visible structure) · cmn 表格 (document to be filled in) · fi sanamuoto (grouping of words) · ja 語形 (grouping of words) · hu forma (shape or visible structure) · sv formulär (document to be filled in) · is lögun (shape or visible structure) · yai сурат (shape or visible structure) · sw fomu (document to be filled in) · ro formă (shape or visible structure) · it formulario (document to be filled in) · tr şekil (shape or visible structure) · oc forma (shape or visible structure) · sh oblik (shape or visible structure) · nb form (grouping of words) · fi lomake (document to be filled in) · lt formuliaras (document to be filled in) · jv warna (shape or visible structure) · cmn 形式 (shape or visible structure) · eo formo (shape or visible structure) · da form (shape or visible structure) · ky формуляр (document to be filled in) · bn রূপ (shape or visible structure) · nn skjema (document to be filled in) · uk фо́рма (shape or visible structure) · tl hubog (shape or visible structure) · ky форма (shape or visible structure) · pdt Form (shape or visible structure) · es formato (document to be filled in) · mk формула́р (document to be filled in) · ar شَكْل (shape or visible structure) · mk образец (document to be filled in) · ko 형상 (shape or visible structure) · gd cumadh (shape or visible structure) · es formulario (document to be filled in) · sq formular (document to be filled in) · tl anyo (shape or visible structure) · vi hình (shape or visible structure) · pl forma (shape or visible structure) · ru фо́рма (document to be filled in) · ne आकृति (shape or visible structure) · tl itsura (shape or visible structure) · da formular (document to be filled in) · jv dhapur (shape or visible structure) · hu űrlap (document to be filled in) · fa-ira شِکْل (shape or visible structure) · de Vordruck (document to be filled in) · fi muoto (grouping of words) · nb skjema (document to be filled in) · vi đơn (document to be filled in) · bn সুরত (shape or visible structure) · nn form (grouping of words) · it modulo (document to be filled in) · tg шакл (shape or visible structure) · tg анкета (document to be filled in) · nn form (shape or visible structure) · es forma (document to be filled in) · is lag (shape or visible structure) · cmn 形狀 /形状 (shape or visible structure) · enm forme (shape or visible structure) · lv veidlapa (document to be filled in) · km គ្រោង (shape or visible structure) · eo formularo (document to be filled in) · nl vorm (grouping of words) · tk anketa (document to be filled in) · rup bicime (shape or visible structure) · la fōrma (shape or visible structure) · ru фо́рма (shape or visible structure) · eu forma (shape or visible structure) · nb form (shape or visible structure) · ms borang (document to be filled in) · bg формуля́р (document to be filled in) · et formular (document to be filled in) · sk formulár (document to be filled in) · mk облик (shape or visible structure) · vi hình thể (shape or visible structure) · ota شكل (shape or visible structure) · fa-ira صورَت (shape or visible structure) · th รูปร่าง (shape or visible structure) · hi अर्ज़ी (document to be filled in) · el ύφος (grouping of words) · jv wujud (shape or visible structure) · sv blankett (document to be filled in) · oc formula (document to be filled in) · la figūra (shape or visible structure) · et vorm (shape or visible structure) · tg саволнома (document to be filled in) · cmn 詞形 /词形 (grouping of words) · af vorm (shape or visible structure) · kl blanketti (document to be filled in) · ky кеп (shape or visible structure) · jv warni (shape or visible structure) · kk пішін (shape or visible structure) · cs formulář (document to be filled in) · gld дурун (shape or visible structure) · it forma (shape or visible structure) · txb ersna (shape or visible structure) · de Form (grouping of words) · ug جەدۋەل (document to be filled in) · th รูป (shape or visible structure) · fi muoto (shape or visible structure) · prs شَکْل (shape or visible structure) · fr formulaire (document to be filled in) · kk формуляр (document to be filled in) · ja 形式 (shape or visible structure) · fkv haamu (grouping of words) · be бланк (document to be filled in) · sh formùlār (document to be filled in) · tg варақа (document to be filled in) · da blanket (document to be filled in) · de Form (shape or visible structure) · pt formulário (document to be filled in) · ur شَکْل (shape or visible structure) · uk фо́рма (document to be filled in) · pl postać (shape or visible structure) · pl blankiet (document to be filled in) · tr form (document to be filled in) · hi फारम (document to be filled in) · bg бла́нка (document to be filled in) · es planilla (document to be filled in) · de Formular (document to be filled in) · nl vorm (shape or visible structure) · sh облик (shape or visible structure) · ka ფორმა (document to be filled in) · hy ձեւաթուղթ (document to be filled in) · hy ձեւ (document to be filled in) · mnc ᡩᡠᡵᡠᠨ (shape or visible structure) · fr forme (shape or visible structure)