Dictionary

formatize en · VERB

Etymology

From format + -ize.

Meanings

1. (rare) To trim or add to a picture in order to make it fit into a standard frame size.
   • The desired symmetry was only achieved by "formatizing" great masterpieces; and this was why Christian von Mechel had to remove additions to pictures and remedy losses when the Hapsburg paintings were moved from the Stallburg to the new museum in the Belvedere Palace. 1982, Joseph Alsop, The Rare Art Traditions, page 120:
   • Indeed, this latter process may have begun during the seventeenth century: Muizelaar and Van de Wetering have suggested that 'formatizing' (the term sometimes used to describe the cutting down or adding to a picture, or changing its shape from oval to rectilinear as part of a predetermined scheme) may have been ... 2000, John Loughman, John Michael Montias, Public and private spaces, page 125:
   • While not as destructive as formatizing, this close trimming is a further indication that the albums are art collections and not essentially print collections, for even in the eighteenth century a diehard print collector would always prefer ... 1992, Marjorie B. Cohn, A noble collection: the Spencer albums of old master prints, page 42:
2. (rare) To prepare a specimen so that it fits a standard size and shape.
   • A small hacksaw was used to formatize rock specimens. 1968, Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, Contribuição para a fauna do Kimeridgiano da mina de lignito Guimarota (Leiria, Portugal), page 11:
   • Part of specimen in Fig. 2 after formatizing and cutting. 2009, V. P. Wright, M. E. Tucker, Calcretes (Reprint Series Volume 2 of the IAS), →ISBN, page 234:
3. (rare) To translate or render into a specific format.
   • My desire was to give her half, because she had helped me with the project, of digiting and formatizing the work to be presented in a power point presentation at my summer conferences. 2012, Ivan Pitzer de Souza, The Relational Intelligence, →ISBN, page 28:
   • The 'reference file' ICDSOL is built by means of an auxiliary program, ICDTEST, that simply reads correction commands, according to a format similar to that of the stored commands, and then it checks, formatizes and finally stores them in the disc file ICDSOT. 1976, IEEE Computer Society, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Technology for Selective Dissemination of Information:
   • But the fundamental definition of graphic design as a way of organizing, “formatizing,” and functionalizing word and image remains constant. 2015, Steven Heller, Veronique Vienne, Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer, →ISBN, page 15:

Forms