WordWeb Online

1. A category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
   "sculpture is a form of art";
   - kind, sort, variety
    
2. A perceptual structure
   "the composition presents problems for students of musical form";
   - shape, pattern
    
3. Any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
   "he could barely make out their forms";
   - shape, configuration, contour, conformation
    
4. The physical body of a human being
   "Leonardo studied the form";
   - human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure, physique, anatomy, shape, bod [informal], chassis [informal], frame, flesh
    
5. The spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance
   "geometry is the mathematical science of form";
   - shape
    
6. (linguistics) the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
   "the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached";
   - word form, signifier, descriptor
    
7. The visual appearance of something or someone
   "the delicate form of his features";
   - shape, cast
    
8. A printed document with spaces in which to write
   "he filled out his tax form"
    
9. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups
   "a new form of microorganisms";
   - variant, strain
    
10. An arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse
    "the essay was in the form of a dialogue"; "he first sketches the plot in outline form"
     
11. A particular mode in which something is manifested
    "his resentment took the form of extreme hostility"
     
12. (physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary
    "the reaction occurs in the liquid form of the system";
    - phase
     
13. A body of students who are taught together
    "early morning forms are always sleepy";
    - class, grade [N. Amer], course
     
14. An ability to perform well
    "he was at the top of his form"; "the team was off form last night"
     
15. A life-size dummy used to display clothes
    - mannequin, manikin, mannikin, manakin [non-standard]
     
16. A mould for setting concrete
    "they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation"

1. Create (as an entity)
   "They formed a company"; "social groups form everywhere";
   - organize, organise [Brit]
    
2. To compose or represent
   "This wall forms the background of the stage setting";
   - constitute, make
    
3. Develop into a distinctive entity
   "our plans began to form";
   - take form, take shape, spring
    
4. Give shape or form to
   "form the young child's character";
   - shape
    
5. Make something, usually for a specific function
   "Form cylinders from the dough";
   - shape, work, mold [N. Amer], mould [Brit, Cdn], forge
    
6. Establish or impress firmly in the mind
   "We form our ideas onto our children";
   - imprint
    
7. Assume a form or shape
   "the water formed little beads"

1. (forming an adjective) having the form of, similar to
   - -like

Derived forms: forming, forms, formed

See also: crooked, straight

Type of: ability, act upon, alter, appearance, assemblage, attribute, be, become, body, cast, category, change, comprise, constitute, create, create from raw material, create from raw stuff, document, dummy, fashion, gathering, genre, influence, literary genre, make, make up, manner, mode, modify, mold [N. Amer], mould [Brit, Cdn], organic structure, papers, represent, spatial property, spatiality, state, state of matter, structure, style, taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group, visual aspect, way, word, work, writing style, written document

Part of: homo, human, human being, individual, man, mortal, percept, perception, perceptual experience, person, somebody, someone, soul, species

Encyclopedia: Form, fit and function