form

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”

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

• “sculpture is a form of art”
• “what kinds of desserts are there?”

a perceptual structure

• “the composition presents problems for students of musical form”
• “a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them”

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

• “he could barely make out their shapes through the smoke”

alternative names for the body of a human being

• “Leonardo studied the human body”
• “he has a strong physique”
• “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”

the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance

• “geometry is the mathematical science of shape”

the visual appearance of something or someone

• “the delicate cast of his features”

(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 phase of the system”

a printed document with spaces in which to write

• “he filled out his tax form”

(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups

• “a new strain of microorganisms”

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”

a particular mode in which something is manifested

• “his resentment took the form of extreme hostility”

a body of students who are taught together

• “early morning classes are always sleepy”

an ability to perform well

• “he was at the top of his form”
• “the team was off form last night”

a life-size dummy used to display clothes

a mold for setting concrete

• “they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation”

to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"

• “The branches made a roof”
• “This makes a fine introduction”

create (as an entity)

• “social groups form everywhere”
• “They formed a company”

develop into a distinctive entity

• “our plans began to take shape”

give a shape or form to

• “shape the dough”

make something, usually for a specific function

• “She molded the rice balls carefully”
• “Form cylinders from the dough”
• “shape a figure”
• “Work the metal into a sword”

establish or impress firmly in the mind

• “We imprint our ideas onto our children”

give shape to

• “form the clay into a head”