type
1 [C] a type or variety of sth:
forms of transport / government / energy * one of the most common forms of cancer * Music is not like most other art forms. * all the millions of different life forms on the planet today
way sth is / looks
2 [C,U] the particular way sth is, seems, looks or is presented:
The disease can take several different forms. * Help in the form of money will be very welcome. * Help arrived in the form of two police officers. * The training programme takes the form of a series of workshops. * Most political questions involve morality in some form or other. * We need to come to some form of agreement. * I'm opposed to censorship in any shape or form. * This dictionary is also available in electronic form.
document
3 [C] an official document containing questions and spaces for answers:
an application / entry / order form * (especially BrE) to fill in a form * (especially AmE) to fill out a form * to complete a form * (BrE) a booking form * (AmE) a reservation form
shape
4 [C] the shape of sb/sth; a person or thing of which only the shape can be seen:
her slender form * The human form has changed little over the last 30000 years. * They made out a shadowy form in front of them.
arrangement of parts
5 [U] the arrangement of parts in a whole, especially in a work of art or piece of writing:
Shape and form are of greater importance to me than colour. * In a novel form and content are equally important.
being fit / healthy
6 [U] (BrE) how fit and healthy sb is; the state of being fit and healthy:
After six months' training the whole team is in superb form. * I really need to get back in form. * The horse was clearly out of form.
performance
7 [U] how well sb/sth is performing; the fact that sb/sth is performing well:
Midfielder Elliott has shown disappointing form recently. * On current / present form the party is heading for another election victory. * Hingis signalled her return to form with a convincing victory. * He's right on form (= performing well) as a crazy science teacher in his latest movie. * The whole team was on good form and deserved the win. * She was in great form (= happy and cheerful and full of energy) at the wedding party.
way of doing things
8 [U,C] (especially BrE) the usual way of doing sth:
What's the form when you apply for a research grant? * conventional social forms * True to form (= as he usually does) he arrived an hour late. * Partners of employees are invited as a matter of form.
9 [U] (good / bad ~) (old-fashioned, BrE) the way of doing things that is socially acceptable/not socially acceptable:
When I was a boy it was always considered bad form to talk about food or money. * Good form dictated that she should dress more casually in the country.
in school
10 (BrE, old-fashioned) a class in a school:
Who's your form teacher?
seealsoSIXTHFORM
11 (-former) (in compounds) (BrE, old-fashioned) a student in the form mentioned at school:
a third-former
seealsoSIXTH-FORMER
of word
12 [C] a way of writing or saying a word that shows, for example, if it is plural or in a particular tense:
the infinitive form of the verb
IDIOMS
take form (formal) to gradually form into a particular shape; to gradually develop:
In her body a new life was taking form.
moreatSHAPEn., TRUEadj.
start to exist
1 (especially of natural things) to begin to exist and gradually develop into a particular shape; to make sth begin to exist in a particular shape:
[V] Flowers appeared, but fruits failed to form. * Storm clouds are forming on the horizon. * [VN] These hills were formed by glaciation.
2 to start to exist and develop; to make sth start to exist and develop:
[V] A plan formed in my head. * [VN] I formed many close friendships at college. * I didn't see enough of the play to form an opinion about it.
make shape / form
3 [VN] [oftenpassive] ~ sth (into sth)
