forms
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
An inflected form of form · plural.
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,068 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,610 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something also: word form, signifier, descriptor 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 also: kind, sort, variety sculpture is a form of artwhat kinds of desserts are there?
- a perceptual structure also: shape, pattern the composition presents problems for students of musical forma visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them
- any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline) also: shape, configuration, contour, conformation he could barely make out their shapes
- alternative names for the body of a human being also: human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure Leonardo studied the human bodyhe has a strong physique
- the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance also: shape geometry is the mathematical science of shape
forms in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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What delicate forms they have! they must have worn corsets when they were young.
Piccolissima · Adélaïde de Montgolfier · Chapter 1
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For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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Satan, who prowls about, assumes many forms, sometimes disguising himself as a woman, and again, even as a saint.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 1
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The ice was broken into thousands of confused shapes, but none, Hans thought like the ordinary forms of splintered ice.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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I was told that her father was one of those men whose rigid probity surrounds itself with austere and harsh forms.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1