formation

Noun
Synonyms: shapingconstitutionestablishmentorganizationorganisationgeological formation

WordNet 3.0

Noun (7)

  1. an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit“a defensive formation”“a formation of planes”
  2. the act of fabricating something in a particular shapeSynonyms: shaping
  3. the act of forming or establishing something“the constitution of a PTA group last year”“it was the establishment of his reputation”“he still remembers the organization of the club”Synonyms: constitutionestablishmentorganizationorganisation
  4. (geology) the geological features of the earthSynonyms: geological formation
  5. a particular spatial arrangement
  6. natural process that causes something to form“the formation of gas in the intestine”“the formation of crystals”“the formation of pseudopods”
  7. creation by mental activity“the formation of sentences”“the formation of memories”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Formation \For*ma"tion\ (f[o^]r*m[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. formatio: cf. F. formation.]

1.The act of giving form or shape to anything; a forming; a shaping. --Beattie. [1913 Webster]

2.The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation; form; as, the peculiar formation of the heart. [1913 Webster]

3.A substance formed or deposited. [1913 Webster]

4.(Geol.) (a) Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers; alluvial formations; marine formations. (b) A group of beds of the same age or period; as, the Eocene formation. [1913 Webster]

5.(Mil.) The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column, etc. --Farrow. [1913 Webster]

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