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View synonyms for

format

[ fawr-mat ]

noun

  1. the shape and size of a book as determined by the number of times the original sheet has been folded to form the leaves. Compare duodecimo, folio ( def 2 ), octavo, quarto.
  2. the general physical appearance of a book, magazine, or newspaper, such as the typeface, binding, quality of paper, margins, etc.
  3. the organization, plan, style, or type of something:

    The format of the show allowed for topical and controversial gags.

  4. Computers. the arrangement of data for computer input or output, such as the number and size of fields in a record or the spacing and punctuation of information in a report.


verb (used with object)

formatted, formatting.
  1. to plan or provide a format for:

    to format the annual telethon.

  2. 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)

formatted, formatting.
  1. to devise a format.

format

/ ˈɔːæ /

noun

  1. the general appearance of a publication, including type style, paper, binding, etc
  2. 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
  3. style, plan, or arrangement, as of a television programme
  4. 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to arrange (a book, page, etc) into a specified format
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

format

Noun

  1. The arrangement of data for storage or display.

Verb

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

  • ڴǰm·ٱ noun
  • ·ڴǰm verb (used with object) preformatted preformatting
  • ·ڴǰm verb reformatted reformatting
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Word History and Origins

Origin of format1

First recorded in 1830–40; from French, from Latin (liber) fōrmātus “(book) shaped (in a specified way)”; formation ( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of format1

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

I’m not a purist, but I want these incredible formats to survive.

From

Former England defender Asante said player welfare has been considered in "every aspect" regarding the format of the tournament.

From

Some of the accounts follow the same format in every video, using AI avatars to imitate different murder victims from across the world.

From

He acknowledged the fans who saw the film in “different formats,” those who adjusted their schedules to see the movie and others who praised “Sinners” in their inner circles.

From

Labubus are also primarily sold in the blind box format, meaning customers never know what version they'll get until they open them - a fact collectors have said adds to their appeal.

From

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