the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance; "geometry is the mathematical science of shape";
a mold for setting concrete; "they built elaborate forms for pouring the foundation";
a life-size dummy used to display clothes;
the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features";
a particular mode in which something is manifested; "his resentment took the form of extreme hostility";
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline); "he could barely make out their shapes through the smoke";
an ability to perform well; "he was at the top of his form"; "the team was off form last night";
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";
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";
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 printed document with spaces in which to write; "he filled out his tax form";
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";
(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups; "a new strain of microorganisms";
a body of students who are taught together; "early morning classes are always sleepy";
(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";
give a shape or form to; "shape the dough";
give shape to; "form the clay into a head";
make something, usually for a specific function; "She molded the riceballs 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";
create (as an entity); "social groups form everywhere"; "They formed a company";
to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"; "The branches made a roof"; "This makes a fine introduction";
develop into a distinctive entity; "our plans began to take shape";