form

Everyday

1. A form is a shape: a cloud in the form of a rabbit. tree →
2. A form is a kind or type: ice is a form of water. tree →
3. A form is a paper or online page with spaces to fill in information. tree →
4. In the UK, a form is a class or year group at school. tree →
5. To form means to make or create something, or to take shape: ice forms on the pond. tree →
6. In grammar, a form is one version of a word: «ran» is a form of «run». tree →
7. Good form means behaving in the polite and correct way that people expect. tree →

In the lessons

In science «form» describes changes of state (water in solid, liquid and gas form) and how things are made (clouds form, crystals form). In maths shapes and numbers can be written in different forms: a half in the form of a decimal is 0.5. In everyday life parents fill in forms for school trips. In grammar pupils learn word forms (plural form, past form). Phrases: fill in a form, form a line, in the form of, form teacher, good form.

Examples

• Ice, water and steam are three forms of the same thing. tree →
• Please fill in this form with your name and address. tree →
• Form a line by the door. tree →
• Clouds form when water vapour cools. tree →
• Write a half in decimal form. tree →
• My form teacher takes the register every morning. tree →
• «Went» is the past form of «go». tree →
• The children formed a circle for the game. tree →
• A terrible answer suddenly presented itself—“Good form?” tree →

Note

Countable: forms. «Fill in a form» (UK) or «fill out a form» (USA). Never fill in an online form with your address or phone number without asking a parent. In maths «simplest form» of a fraction means it cannot be divided down further (2/4 in simplest form is 1/2).

In Jewish tradition

In "of beautiful form" it means a person's shape and looks. "Formed" is used of God shaping the first man from the earth.

Interpretation. The word "formed" leads to the idea that God shaped the world with care. In Sefer Yetzirah, God "formed" and engraved the world with letters and numbers.

Examples

• And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon. (Torah GEN.39.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. (Torah GEN.29.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. (Torah GEN.2.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• He that formed the eye, shall He not see? (Writings PSA.94.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• There go the ships; there is leviathan, whom Thou hast formed to sport therein. (Writings PSA.104.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• The people which I formed for Myself, that they might tell of My praise. (Prophets ISA.43.21, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: forms. «Fill in a form» (UK) or «fill out a form» (USA). Never fill in an online form with your address or phone number without asking a parent. In maths «simplest form» of a fraction means it cannot be divided down further (2/4 in simplest form is 1/2).