English noun: form | |||
1. | form (communication) the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something | ||
Samples | The inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached. | ||
Synonyms | descriptor, signifier, word form | ||
Broader (hypernym) | word | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | abbreviation, acronym, base, citation form, entry word, etymon, ghost word, main entry word, plural, plural form, radical, root, root, root word, singular, singular form, stem, theme | ||
Domain category | linguistics | ||
2. | form (cognition) a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality | ||
Samples | Sculpture is a form of art. What kinds of desserts are there?. | ||
Synonyms | kind, sort, variety | ||
Broader (hypernym) | category | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | antitype, art form, brand, color, colour, description, flavor, flavour, genre, genus, ilk, like, like, make, manner, model, species, stripe, style, the like, the likes of, type | ||
3. | form (cognition) a perceptual structure | ||
Samples | The composition presents problems for students of musical form. A visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them. | ||
Synonyms | pattern, shape | ||
Broader (hypernym) | structure | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | fractal, gestalt, grid, kaleidoscope, mosaic, strand | ||
Part meronym | percept, perception, perceptual experience | ||
4. | form (attribute) any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline) | ||
Samples | He could barely make out their shapes. | ||
Synonyms | configuration, conformation, contour, shape | ||
Broader (hypernym) | spatial property, spatiality | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | angularity, bluntness, concaveness, concavity, convexity, convexness, crookedness, curvature, curve, dullness, keenness, lobularity, narrowing, roundness, sharpness, straightness, stratification, topography | ||
Attribute | crooked, straight | ||
5. | form (body) alternative names for the body of a human being | ||
Samples | Leonardo studied the human body. He has a strong physique. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. | ||
Synonyms | anatomy, bod, build, chassis, figure, flesh, frame, human body, material body, physical body, physique, shape, soma | ||
Broader (hypernym) | body, organic structure, physical structure | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | adult body, female body, juvenile body, male body, person | ||
Part meronym | homo, human, human being, individual, man, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul | ||
6. | form the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance | ||
Samples | Geometry is the mathematical science of shape. | ||
Synonyms | shape | ||
Broader (hypernym) | attribute | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | amorphous shape, angular shape, angularity, circle, column, connection, connexion, distorted shape, distortion, figure, flair, flare, line, link, natural shape, pillar, plane, plume, round shape, sheet, solid, square, tower, triangle | ||
7. | form (attribute) the visual appearance of something or someone | ||
Samples | The delicate cast of his features. | ||
Synonyms | cast, shape | ||
Broader (hypernym) | appearance, visual aspect | ||
8. | form (communication) a printed document with spaces in which to write | ||
Samples | He filled out his tax form. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | document, papers, written document | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | application form, claim form, order form, questionnaire, requisition, requisition form, tax form, telegraph form | ||
Part holonym | blank space, place, space | ||
9. | form (group) (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups | ||
Samples | A new strain of microorganisms. | ||
Synonyms | strain, var., variant | ||
Broader (hypernym) | taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group | ||
Member meronym | species | ||
Domain category | biological science, biology | ||
10. | form (communication) an arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse | ||
Samples | The essay was in the form of a dialogue. He first sketches the plot in outline form. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | genre, literary genre, writing style | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | versification | ||
11. | form (attribute) a particular mode in which something is manifested | ||
Samples | His resentment took the form of extreme hostility. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | fashion, manner, mode, style, way | ||
12. | form (state) (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 | ||
Samples | The reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system. | ||
Synonyms | phase | ||
Broader (hypernym) | state, state of matter | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | dispersed particles, dispersed phase, dispersing medium, dispersing phase, dispersion medium | ||
Domain category | physical chemistry | ||
13. | form (group) a body of students who are taught together | ||
Samples | Early morning classes are always sleepy. | ||
Synonyms | class, course, grade | ||
Broader (hypernym) | assemblage, gathering | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | discussion section, master class, section | ||
14. | form (attribute) an ability to perform well | ||
Samples | He was at the top of his form. The team was off form last night. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | ability | ||
15. | form (artifact) a life-size dummy used to display clothes | ||
Synonyms | manakin, manikin, mannequin, mannikin | ||
Broader (hypernym) | dummy | ||
16. | form (artifact) a mold for setting concrete | ||
Samples | They built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cast, mold, mould | ||
English verb: form | |||
1. | form (social) create (as an entity) | ||
Samples | Social groups form everywhere. They formed a company. | ||
Synonyms | organise, organize | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | create, make | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | choose up, draw up, regiment, regroup, reorganise, reorganize, syndicate | ||
2. | form (stative) to compose or represent: | ||
Samples | This wall forms the background of the stage setting. The branches made a roof. This makes a fine introduction. | ||
Synonyms | constitute, make | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | be, comprise, constitute, make up, represent | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | add, chelate | ||
3. | form (stative) develop into a distinctive entity | ||
Samples | Our plans began to take shape. | ||
Synonyms | spring, take form, take shape | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s. Something is ----ing PP. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | become | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | regenerate | ||
4. | form (change) give shape or form to | ||
Samples | Shape the dough. Form the young child's character. | ||
Synonyms | shape | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | block, block, blow, circle, crystalise, crystalize, crystallise, crystallize, cup, deform, dimension, dish, distort, draw, encircle, fit, flatten, fork, individuate, plume, ridge, roll, round, round off, round out, scallop, scollop, sliver, square, square up, strain, strike, tabulate, terrace, tie, turn, twist | ||
5. | form (creation) make something, usually for a specific function | ||
Samples | She molded the rice balls carefully. Form cylinders from the dough. Shape a figure. Work the metal into a sword. | ||
Synonyms | forge, mold, mould, shape, work | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | create from raw material, create from raw stuff | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | beat, carve, cast, chip, coil, cut out, grind, hand-build, handbuild, hill, layer, machine, model, mold, mold, mould, mould, mound, preform, preform, puddle, remold, reshape, roughcast, sculpt, sculpture, sinter, stamp, swage, throw, upset | ||
Verb group | process, work, work on | ||
6. | form (social) establish or impress firmly in the mind | ||
Samples | We imprint our ideas onto our children. | ||
Synonyms | imprint | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something on somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | act upon, influence, work | ||
7. | form (change) assume a form or shape | ||
Samples | The water formed little beads. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bead, brecciate, bunch, bunch up, bundle, clump, cluster, conglobate, conglobe, constellate, culminate, flake, grain, granulate, head, reticulate | ||