format
/ˈfɔːmat
/noun
1The way in which something is arranged or set out: the conventional format of TV situation comedies...
- These thinkers can be arranged in a sequential format to help describe economic decision-making.
- These one-hour biographies are not made in the conventional format.
- What happens if a PhD Thesis cannot be articulated in a conventional format?
1.1The shape, size, and presentation of a book or periodical: the format is A4 on newsprint (as modifier, in combination) large-format paperbacks...
- This reader friendliness is present in the format: rather than use A4 paper it is the size of a paperback.
- The book format is planned carefully for efficiency of page turns and includes composer biographies and a short history of the piano duet.
- Graham presents a double-criticism of the book format as it relates to emblem studies: it cannot be indexed by the individual reader, and it is extremely cumbersome and slow.
Synonyms
design, style, presentation, appearance, look;
form, shape, size;
arrangement, plan, scheme, composition, make-up, configuration, structure, set-up
1.2The medium in which a sound recording is made available: he has just re-issued the collection in CD format...
- They are outstanding examples of a less-familiar, nearly-obsolete, sound recording format.
- Yes, it is a gathering of songs, but the bulk of the book concerns their history, context and reproduction in recorded sound formats.
- For the time being it would probably be better, in most cases, to use cassettes or to make the message available in both formats - if this is affordable in your budget.
1.3 Computing A defined structure for the processing, storage, or display of data: a data file in binary format...
- These recommendations would cover such things as storage, file formats, metadata, and cataloging.
- Choose between bitmap or JPEG file formats when saving screenshots to the hard drive.
- Despite these difficulties, several new XML formats are gaining adoption.
verb (formats, formatting, formatted) [with object]
1(Especially in computing) arrange or put into a format: how to format a document...
- So after the landscape is sketched out through gathering material, I arrange and format the sounds into some kind of set or collection which works well together.
- But due to an error in the computer system which formatted the text, the letters were sent out addressing thousands of people by their first name only.
- He asked that contributions be formatted as MS-Word documents.
1.1Prepare (a storage medium) to receive data: you will be able to format a disk...
- Figure 2 demonstrates a disk that was randomized properly before being formatted to contain an encrypted filesystem.
- Here is a free resource Windows Setup Guide that can help you to learn about partitioning, formatting hard disks and installing Windows.
- Through an associated software utility, the disk is formatted and can be only unlocked when the security dongle is used.
Origin
Mid 19th century: via French and German from Latin formatus (liber) 'shaped (book)', past participle of formare 'to form'.