preform
1 of 2verb
pre·form ˈprē-ˌfȯrm 
(ˌ)prē-ˈfȯrm
preformed; preforming; preforms
transitive verb
1
: to form or shape beforehand
2
: to bring to approximate preliminary shape and size
preform
2 of 2noun
pre·form ˈprē-ˌfȯrm
plural preforms
: any of various objects of manufacture or handicraft after preliminary shaping: such as
a
: a rough gemstone that has been cut to approximately its finished size and shape
b
: a tube produced for the purpose of being molded into a particular form (such as a bottle)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Dean Mobbs, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2019 But the Hunter for Target line is mass-produced in a factory, using a preformed mold. Abha Bhattarai, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018 The 21-story Hilton Palacio del Rio was built in 202 days, using a crane to lift preformed, furnished room modules into place. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2018
Verb
For example, feelings related to fear, such as horror or terror, are cognitively assembled conceptions of one’s situation, rather than preformed, innate mental states inherited from animals. Dean Mobbs, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2019 But the Hunter for Target line is mass-produced in a factory, using a preformed mold. Abha Bhattarai, chicagotribune.com, 16 Apr. 2018 The 21-story Hilton Palacio del Rio was built in 202 days, using a crane to lift preformed, furnished room modules into place. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2018 Word History
Etymology
Verb
Latin praeformare, from prae- + formare to form, from forma form
First Known Use
Verb
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1931, in the meaning defined above