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.
- a particular disposition of troops, as in columns, squares, etc.
- any required assembling of the soldiers of a unit.
Geology.
- a body of rocks classed as a stratigraphic unit for geologic mapping.Compare member(def 8).
- the process of depositing rock or mineral of a particular composition or origin.
Origin of formation
SYNONYMS FOR formation
OTHER WORDS FROM formation
Words nearby formation
forman,
formant,
format,
formate,
formatio,
formation,
formation dance,
formation rules,
formative,
formative assessment,
formative element
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
- 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
- (as modifier)formation dancing
geology
- the fundamental lithostratigraphic unit
- 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, adjectiveMedical definitions for formation
formation
[ fôr-mā′shən ]
n.
The act or process of forming something or of taking form.
Something formed.
Scientific definitions for formation
formation
[ fôr-mā′shən ]
A long, mappable body of rock that is recognizable by its physical characteristics and by its location within the rock record.