Word family noun form formation transformation reformer reform reformation reformist transformer formlessness adjective reformed reformist formless verb form reform transform adverb formlessly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishformationfor‧ma‧tion /fɔːˈmeɪʃən $ fɔːr-/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 P[uncountable]SSO the process of starting a new organization or group SYN creationformation of the formation of a new government2 [uncountable]DEVELOP the process by which something develops into a particular thing or shapeformation of the substances which lead to the formation of ozone We now know a lot more about the early stages of planetary formation.3 ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE[countable] the way in which a group of things are arranged to form a pattern or shape troop formations4 → in formation5 [countable, uncountable]CF rock or cloud that is formed in a particular shape, or the shape in which it is formedrock/cloud formation the canyon’s impressive rock formations6 [countable, uncountable] technical society, politics etc seen as a system of practices and beliefssocial/political/cultural etc formation Marx founded a new science: the science of the history of social formations.Examples from the Corpus
formation• Formations of tanks were lined up along the border.• Looking up, I saw a formation of six Wellington bombers passing over at 4,000 meters.• However, a minority of features may be the result of waves which influence cloud formation as they move through the atmosphere.• Three small planes flying in formation collided this afternoon, killing four people.• Astronomers were able to observe a galaxy still in the process of formation.• the natural rock formations of Bryce Canyon• And even within a single formation the relations between instances are for ever changing.• This capitalist thrust was within a largely pre-capitalist social formation.• The players lined up in a T formation.• Within the squad we got a number that referred to our position in the formation.• Yeltsin organized the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.formation of• Burning plastics were responsible for the formation of toxic smoke.rock/cloud formation• Rent a jeep to get out on to small tracks which uncover some beautiful waterfalls and rock formations.• Bernice was fascinated by rock formations.• Above: The distinctive rock formation of the Trinnacle, at Ravenstones.• Fantastic rock formations, beautiful mesquite forests and deep grass all hide in the heart of the range.• However, a minority of features may be the result of waves which influence cloud formation as they move through the atmosphere.• Massive rock formations, mountains and deep canyons present splendid views of nature's work.• Mountains stretched as far as my eyes could see, until the next cloud formation.• The canyon walls, rock formations and spires on the rim looked surreal, like a backdrop in a movie set.social/political/cultural etc formation• Second, the activities to be considered work must be present in all social formations.• A second concern 15 to examine petty commerce in the context of various modes of production in capitalist social formations.• This capitalist thrust was within a largely pre-capitalist social formation.• As in his earlier work the aim is to analyse the levels of social process that constitute social formations.• In the years since then, antiracists have become a discrete and self contained political formation.• He sees the trajectory of his industrial social formation in contradiction to meeting fundamental human and social needs.• Many cultural formations have of course been restricted in this way.• The sociology of such developments is at a different and much broader level than that of cultural formations.From Longman Business Dictionaryformationfor‧ma‧tion /fɔːˈmeɪʃənfɔːr-/ noun [uncountable] the forming of a company, organization, or committeeThe government backs the formation of a single environment agency covering Scotland as well as England and Wales. → see also capital formation 