(fôrm) noun
1. The outward or visible shape of a body as distinguished from its substance or color.
2. Philos. The intelligible structure of a thing, which determines its substance or species, as distinguished from its matter.
3. A body, especially of a living being.
4. A mold or frame for shaping.
5. A specific structure, condition, or appearance: carbon in the form of diamonds; disease in all its forms.
6. A specific type or species of a larger group: democracy as a form of government.
7. In art, music, and literature, style and manner, as opposed to content.
8. System; order; formal procedure: to convene as a matter of form.
9. Behavior or conduct according to custom, ceremony, or decorum; formality; manners.
10. Manner or fashion of doing something: He swam in good form.
11. Fitness in respect to health, spirits, training, etc.: The horse was in good form for the race.
12. A formula or draft; a specimen document used as a guide in drawing up others.
13. A document with spaces left for the insertion of information: an application form.
14. The lair of an animal, especially of a hare.
15. A cotton bud.
16. A long bench without a back.
17. Brit. A grade or class in a school.
18. Printing The body of type and cuts secured in a chase. Also Brit. forme.
19. Gram. Any of the various shapes assumed by a word in a particular context, as talk, talks, talked, talking.
20. Ling. A linguistic form. See BOUND FORM, FREE FORM.
—v.t.
1. To give shape to; mold; fashion.
2. To construct in the mind; devise: to form a plan.
3. To combine into; organize into: The men formed a club.
4. To develop; acquire, as a habit or liking.
5. To give a specific or exemplified shape or character to: He formed his ideals on those of Wilson.
6. To go to make up; be an element of: Guesswork forms the larger part of his theory.
7. To shape by discipline or training; mold: Education forms the mind.
8. Gram. To construct (a word) by adding or combining elements: to form an adverb by adding -ly to an adjective.
—v.i.
9. To take shape; assume a specific form or arrangement.
10. To begin to exist. See synonyms under CONSTRUCT. [<OF fourme <L forma] Synonyms (noun): appearance, aspect, ceremonial, ceremony, configuration, conformation, contour, fashion, figure, formality, method, mode, mold, observance, outline, rite, ritual, shape. See BODY, FIGURE, FRAME.

Like; in the shape of: ensiform. [<L -formis -like <forma form]