formula

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (7)

  1. a group of symbols that make a mathematical statementSynonyms: expression
  2. directions for making somethingSynonyms: recipe
  3. a conventionalized statement expressing some fundamental principle
  4. a representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elementsSynonyms: chemical formula
  5. something regarded as a normative example“the convention of not naming the main character”“violence is the rule not the exception”“his formula for impressing visitors”Synonyms: conventionnormalpatternrule
  6. a liquid food for infants
  7. (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems“he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs”“he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials”Synonyms: rule
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Formula \For"mu*la\, n.; pl. E. Formulas, L. Formul[ae]. [L., dim. of forma form, model. SeeForm, n.]

1.A prescribed or set form; an established rule; a fixed or conventional method in which anything is to be done, arranged, or said. [1913 Webster]

2.(Eccl.) A written confession of faith; a formal statement of foctrines. [1913 Webster]

3.(Math.) A rule or principle expressed in algebraic language; as, the binominal formula. [1913 Webster]

4.(Med.) A prescription or recipe for the preparation of a medicinal compound. [1913 Webster]

5.(Chem.) A symbolic expression (by means of letters, figures, etc.) of the constituents or constitution of a compound. [1913 Webster]

Note: Chemical formul[ae] consist of the abbreviations of the names of the elements, with a small figure at the lower right hand, to denote the number of atoms of each element contained. [1913 Webster]

Empirical formula (Chem.), an expression which gives the simple proportion of the constituents; as, the empirical formula of acetic acid is C2H4O2.

Graphic formula, Rational formula (Chem.), an expression of the constitution, and in a limited sense of the structure, of a compound, by the grouping of its atoms or radicals; as, a rational formula of acetic acid is CH3.(C:O).OH; -- called also structural formula, constitutional formula, etc. See also the formula of Benzene nucleus, under Benzene.

Molecular formula (Chem.), a formula indicating the supposed molecular constitution of a compound. [1913 Webster]

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing

formula

1.In logic, a sequence of symbols representing terms, predicates, connectives and quantifiers which is either true or false.

2.<language, music> FORTH Music Language. An extension of FORTH with concurrent note-playing processes. Runs on Macintosh and Atari ST with MIDI output.

["Formula: A Programming Language for Expressive Computer Music", D.P. Anderson et al Computer 24(7):12 (Jul 1991)].

3.Preprocessor language for the Acorn Archimedes, allowing inline high-level statements to be entered in an assembly program. Written in nawk.

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