format, n. 1. form, shape, contour; frame, framework, structure; size, dimensions, measurements, thickness; appearance, look, aspect.
2. organization, arrangement, setup, order, grouping; composition, make-up, contents, constitution, comprisal.
3. layout, blueprint, outline, sketch, adumbration; pattern, guide, model; design, plan, scheme, formula, Inf getup.
4. style, mode, manner, make, cast, cut; variety, type, kind, genre, suit.
formation, n. 1. manufacture, making, fabrication, production, generation; construction, building, framing; creation, invention, origination, genesis, innovation; institution, founding, establishment.
2. materialization, development, emergence, appearance.
3. configuration, layout, design, pattern, format, shape, contour, figure, outline, silhouette, outward appearance, look, aspect; composition, make-up, constitution, contents, comprisal; organization, order, arrangement, setup; structure, construct, build, frame, framework, exterior.
formative, adj. 1. forming, shaping, molding, forging, fashioning; developmental, developing.
2. formable, moldable, shapable, malleable, tractable, pliable, pliant, supple, ductile, fictile, plastic; impressionable, susceptible, teachable, educable.
former, adj. 1. prior, earlier, previous, foregone; preceding, precedent, foregoing, antecedent, anterior; erstwhile, whilom, last; preexistent, preliminary; quondam, one-time, Archaic, sometime.
2. past, long past, bygone, long-ago, ancient; antediluvian, antebellum, primitive, pristine; gone, long gone, departed, old, lapsed, late, over and done with,
formerly, adv. 1. previously, aforetime, heretofore, Archaic, erst, at one time, once; hitherto, ere now.
2. in days of yore or old, in the old days, in times past, once upon a time; back then, long ago, when the world was young; in the dim, dark ages,
formidable, adj. 1. feared, dreaded, dread, dreadful; awesome, redoubtable, frightful, frightening; threatening, menacing, alarming, intimidating; petrifying, terrifying, horrifying, Inf scary; appalling, horrible, terrible, awful; demoralizing, discouraging, dismaying.
2. strong, forceful, powerful, mighty, robust, indomitable, invincible; difficult, arduous, tough, Inf. rough; cogent, effective, convincing, telling.
3. huge, tremendous, great, superior, exceptional, extreme; unusual, impressive, terrific, fantastic; mind-boggling, Inf wild, incredible, Inf. mind-blowing, Sl. socko.
formless, adj. 1. shapeless, unshaped, unshapen, unformed, without form, not formed, embryonic, undeveloped; unhewn, uncarved, rough, unfashioned; misshapen, ill-fashioned, ill-made, distorted, deformed.
2. amorphous, indeterminate, indefinite, vague, nebulous, characterless, nondescript; unorganized, confused, jumbled, chaotic, structureless, unstructured; free-form, unconventional, nontraditional, experimental.
formula, n. 1. recipe, receipt, rule, formulary, prescription; set of word, set of symbols, sei expression, code, cliche, shibboleth, password.
2. conventional method or procedure, ritual, order, set order, established order; formality, formal model, procedural dictate, etiquette, protocol, rubrics, rules of order, rules of procedure.