formation

English

/fɔɹ.ˈmeɪ.ʃən/, /fə(ɹ).ˈmeɪ.ʃən/

noun
Definitions
  • Something possessing structure or form.
  • The act of assembling a group or structure.
  • The process during which something comes into being and gains its characteristics.
  • (geology) A rock or face of a mountain.
  • (military) A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc.
  • (military) An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".
  • (sports) An arrangement of players designed to facilitate certain plays.
  • The process of influencing or guiding a person to a deeper understanding of a particular vocation.
  • (category theory) A structure made of two categories, two functors from the first to the second category, and a transformation from one of the functors to the other.

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French formacion derived from Latin fōrmātiō.

Origin

Latin

fōrmātiō

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms