the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something [同] descriptor , form , signifier , word form [例]
the inflected forms of a word can be represented by a stem and a list of inflections to be attached
a body of students who are taught together [同] form , grade , class [例]
the composition presents problems for students of musical form
a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them
the visual appearance of something or someone [同] form , cast , shape [例]
the delicate cast of his features
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality [同] form , kind , sort , variety [例]
sculpture is a form of art
what kinds of desserts are there?
the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance [同] form , shape [例]
geometry is the mathematical science of shape
(physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary [同] form , phase [例]
the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system
a printed document with spaces in which to write [例]
he filled out his tax form
(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups [同] form , strain , var. , variant [例]
a new strain of microorganisms
an arrangement of the elements in a composition or discourse [例]
the essay was in the form of a dialogue
he first sketches the plot in outline form
a particular mode in which something is manifested [例]