preform

1 of 2

verb

pre·​form ˈprē-ˌfȯrm How to pronounce preform (audio)
(ˌ)prē-ˈfȯrm
preformed; preforming; preforms

transitive verb

1
: to form or shape beforehand
2
: to bring to approximate preliminary shape and size

preform

2 of 2

noun

pre·​form ˈprē-ˌfȯrm How to pronounce preform (audio)
plural preforms
: any of various objects of manufacture or handicraft after preliminary shaping: such as
a
: a rough gemstone that has been cut to approximately its finished size and shape
b
: a tube produced for the purpose of being molded into a particular form (such as a bottle)

Examples of preform in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Hundreds of square silicone microchips were embedded in a polymer preform to create the fiber, and by controlling the polymer flow during manufacture, the team was able to ensure continuous electrical connection among the microchips in a fiber tens of meters long. Ars Technica, 26 Feb. 2025 Inside the facility, a rotary forge turns red-hot preform hunks of steel and alloy, using mechanical hammers to draw out precise shapes and contours. Hope Hodge Seck, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023 In a nutshell, researchers placed hundreds of square silicon microscale digital chips into a preform that created a polymer fiber. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 17 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin praeformare, from prae- + formare to form, from forma form

First Known Use

Verb

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preform was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Preform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preform. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

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