format

[ fawr-mat ]
/ ˈfɔr mæt /

noun

verb (used with object), for·mat·ted, for·mat·ting.

to plan or provide a format for: to format the annual telethon.
Computers.
  1. to set the format of (input or output): Some word-processing programs format output in a variety of ways.
  2. to prepare (a disk) for writing and reading.

verb (used without object), for·mat·ted, for·mat·ting.

to devise a format.

Origin of format

1830–40; < French < Latin ( liber) fōrmātus (a book) formed (in a certain way)

OTHER WORDS FROM format

for·mat·ter, noun pre·for·mat, verb (used with object), pre·for·mat·ted, pre·for·mat·ting. re·for·mat, verb, re·for·mat·ted, re·for·mat·ting.

Example sentences from the Web for format

British Dictionary definitions for format

format
/ (ˈfɔːmæt) /

noun

the general appearance of a publication, including type style, paper, binding, etc
an approximate indication of the size of a publication as determined by the number of times the original sheet of paper is folded to make a leaf See also duodecimo, quarto
style, plan, or arrangement, as of a television programme
computing
  1. the defined arrangement of data encoded in a file or for example on magnetic disk or CD-ROM, essential for the correct recording and recovery of data on different devices
  2. the arrangement of text on printed output or a display screen, or a coded description of such an arrangement

verb -mats, -matting or -matted (tr)

to arrange (a book, page, etc) into a specified format

Word Origin for format

C19: via French from German, from Latin liber formātus volume formed

Scientific definitions for format

format
[ fôrmăt′ ]

Noun

The arrangement of data for storage or display.

Verb

To divide a disk into marked sectors so that it may store data.
To determine the arrangement of data for storage or display.