formation

for·ma·tion

noun \fȯr-ˈmā-shən\

Definition of FORMATION

1

: an act of giving form or shape to something or of taking form : development

2

: something that is formed <new word formations>

3

: the manner in which a thing is formed : structure <the peculiar formation of the heart>

4

: a major kind of plant growth (as forest, grassland, or tundra) characteristic of a broad ecological region

5

a : any igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock represented as a unit b : any sedimentary bed or consecutive series of beds sufficiently homogeneous or distinctive to be a unit

6

: an arrangement of a body or group of persons or things in some prescribed manner or for a particular purpose <flying in formation>

Examples of FORMATION

1. The book explains the formation of the planets.
2. The soldiers were marching in formation.
3. The team ran on the field and lined up in a punt formation.

First Known Use of FORMATION

15th century

Related to FORMATION

Synonyms: arrangement, configuration, conformation, format, layout, setout, setup

Related Words: design, plan, scheme; composition, constitution, getup, makeup; build, construction, structure

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Rhymes with FORMATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, mutation, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, sensation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, vocation, way station, workstation