formation

[ fawr-mey-shuhn ]
/ fɔrˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

the act or process of forming or the state of being formed: the formation of ice.
the manner in which a thing is formed; disposition of parts; formal structure or arrangement.
Military.
  1. a particular disposition of troops, as in columns, squares, etc.
  2. any required assembling of the soldiers of a unit.
Geology.
  1. a body of rocks classed as a stratigraphic unit for geologic mapping.Compare member(def 8).
  2. the process of depositing rock or mineral of a particular composition or origin.

Origin of formation

1375–1425; late Middle English formacioun < Latin fōrmātiōn- (stem of fōrmātiō), equivalent to fōrmāt(us) (see form, -ate1) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM formation

Example sentences from the Web for formation

British Dictionary definitions for formation

formation
/ (fɔːˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

the act of giving or taking form, shape, or existence
something that is formed
the manner in which something is formed or arranged
  1. a formal arrangement of a number of persons or things acting as a unit, such as a troop of soldiers, aircraft in flight, or a football team
  2. (as modifier)formation dancing
geology
  1. the fundamental lithostratigraphic unit
  2. a series of rocks with certain characteristics in common
ecology a community of plants, such as a tropical rainforest, extending over a very large area

Derived forms of formation

formational, adjective

Medical definitions for formation

formation
[ fôr-māshən ]

n.

The act or process of forming something or of taking form.
Something formed.

Scientific definitions for formation

formation
[ fôr-māshən ]

A long, mappable body of rock that is recognizable by its physical characteristics and by its location within the rock record.