| 单词 | formation |
| 释义 | formation (once / 267 pages) 1n 2n 3n A formation is an arrangement of people or things. Planes flying in formation make a deliberate, specific pattern in the sky. Some formations are on purpose, or deliberate — like military troops marching in formation or a cheerleading squad arranging itself in formation. Others just arrange themselves in a particular way by chance, like a striking cloud formation overhead. You can also talk about the formation — or establishment — of something less physical, like the formation of a new government. The Latin root, formationem, means "a shaping." WORD FAMILYformation: formations, re-formation+/deform: deformation, deformed, deforming, deforms/deformation: deformational, deformations/deformed: deformedly, deformity/deformity: deformities/form: biform, deform, formation, formative, formed, forming, formless, forms, multiform, preform, reform/formative: formatively, formatives/formed: ill-formed, re-formed, unformed/formless: formlessly/preform: preformation, preformed, preforms/preformation: preformations/reform: reformable, reformation, reformative, reformatory, reformed, reformer, reforming, reformism, reforms/reformable: unreformable/reformation: counterreformation, reformations, self-reformation/reformatory: reformatories/reformed: reformedly, unreformed/reformer: reformers/reformism: reformist/reformist: reformists/unformed: unformedly USAGE EXAMPLESThe men learn to fire a Kalashnikov rifle and Makarov pistol, apply a tourniquet and storm a room in tactical formation. Washington Post(Jan 02, 2017) French police discovered the charred remains of 14 victims — arranged in a star formation — in a forest clearing near the Alpine city of Grenoble. Los Angeles Times(Jan 02, 2017) French police discovered the charred remains of 14 victims - arranged in a star formation - in a forest clearing near the Alpine city of Grenoble. Washington Times(Jan 02, 2017) 1 1n the act of forming or establishing something Syn|Hypo|Hyper constitution, establishment, organisation, organization unionisation, unionization act of forming labor unions collectivisation, collectivizationthe organization of a nation or economy on the basis of collectivism communisation, communizationthe organization of a nation of the basis of communism federationthe act of constituting a political unity out of a number of separate states or colonies or provinces so that each member retains the management of its internal affairs colonisation, colonization, settlementthe act of colonizing; the establishment of colonies populationthe act of populating (causing to live in a place) beginning, commencement, start the act of starting something 2n natural process that causes something to form the formation of gas in the intestine the formation of crystals the formation of pseudopods Hypo|Hyper encrustation, incrustation the formation of a crust reticulation(photography) the formation of a network of cracks or wrinkles in a photographic emulsion action, activity, natural action, natural process a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings) 3n the act of fabricating something in a particular shape Syn|Hypo|Hyper shaping filing the act of using a file (as in shaping or smoothing an object) forgingshaping metal by heating and hammering metalwork, metalworkingthe activity of making things out of metal in a skillful manner granulationthe act of forming something into granules or grains grooving, riflingthe cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of the barrel of a firearm turningthe activity of shaping something on a lathe fabrication, manufacture, manufacturing the act of making something (a product) from raw materials 4n creation by mental activity 2the formation of sentences the formation of memories Hypo|Hyper affixation formation of a word by means of an affix prefixationformation of a word by means of a prefix suffixationformation of a word by means of a suffix creating by mental acts the act of creating something by thinking 1n a particular spatial arrangement Hypo|Hyper raster the rectangular formation of parallel scanning lines that guide the electron beam on a television screen or a computer monitor rig, riggingformation of masts, spars, sails, etc., on a vessel split(tenpin bowling) a divided formation of pins left standing after the first bowl Bermuda rig, Bermudan rig, Bermudian rig, Marconi riga rig of triangular sails for a yacht cat rigrig of a catboat fore-and-aft rigrig in which the principal sails are fore-and-aft lateen-rigthe rig on a lateen-rigged sailing vessel arrangement, placement the spatial property of the way in which something is placed 2n an arrangement of people or things acting as a unit 3a defensive formation a formation of planes Hypo|Hyper flight a formation of aircraft in flight military formationa formation of troops backfieldthe offensive football players who line up behind the linemen secondarythe defensive football players who line up behind the linemen linea formation of people or things one behind another linea formation of people or things one beside another centerthe middle of a military or naval formation flank, wingthe side of military or naval formation headthe front of a military formation or procession rearthe back of a military formation or procession rivet linea line of rivets at a seam chorus, chorus linea body of dancers or singers who perform together diagonalan oblique line of squares of the same color on a checkerboard open ordera military formation leaving enough space between ranks to allow an inspecting officer to pass close ordera military formation for drill or marching extended ordera military formation for skirmishing; as widely separated as the tactical situation permits sick call, sick paradethe daily military formation at which individuals report to the medical officer as sick Indian file, file, single filea line of persons or things ranged one behind the other linementhe football players who line up on the line of scrimmage line of marchthe arrangement of people in a line for marching line of successionthe order in which individuals are expected to succeed one another in some official position lineupa line of persons arranged by police for inspection or identification picket linea line of people acting as pickets rowan arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line ranka row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another conga linea line of people in single file performing the conga dance trap linea line or series of traps queue, waiting linea line of people or vehicles waiting for something arrangement an orderly grouping (of things or persons) considered as a unit; the result of arranging n (geology) the geological features of the earth Syn|Exp|Hypo|Hyper geological formation Pillars of Hercules the two promontories at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; according to legend they were formed by Hercules Barbary Coastthe Mediterranean coast of northern Africa that was famous for its Moorish pirates Cape Horna rocky headland belonging to Chile at the southernmost tip of South America (south of Tierra del Fuego) Aeoliaan ancient coastal region of northwestern Asia Minor (including Lesbos) where the Aeolians founded several cities around 1100 BC Areopagusa hill to the to the west of the Athenian acropolis where met the highest governmental council of ancient Athens and later a judicial court Nemeaa valley in southeastern Greece where the Nemean Games were held Golgothaa hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified Sionoriginally a stronghold captured by David (the 2nd king of the Israelites); above it was built a temple and later the name extended to the whole hill; finally it became a synonym for the city of Jerusalem Cotswold Hillsa range of low hills in southwestern England Cheviot Hillsa range of hills on the border between England and Scotland Pennine Chaina system of hills in Britain that extend from the Scottish border in the north to the Trent River in the south; forms the watershed for English rivers Seven Hills of Romethe hills on which the ancient city of Rome was built Palatinethe most important of the Seven Hills of Rome; supposedly the location of the first settlement and the site of many imperial palaces Laurentian Highlandsa large plateau that occupies more than 40% of the land area of Canada; it extends from the Great Lakes northward to the Arctic Ocean Floddena hill in Northumberland where the invading Scots were defeated by the English in 1513 Highlands of Scotlanda mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse) Lowlands of Scotlandthe southern part of Scotland that is not mountainous Nilgiri Hillshills in southern India Mount Asamaa volcano in central Honshu near Nagano; one of the largest volcanoes in Japan (8,340 feet) Ardennesa wooded plateau in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France; the site of intense fighting in World War I and World War II Mount Pinatuboa volcano on Luzon to the northwest of Manila; erupted in 1991 after 600 years of dormancy Najda central plateau region of the Arabian Peninsula; formerly an independent sultanate until 1932 when it united with Hejaz to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Rock of Gibraltarlocation of a colony of the United Kingdom on a limestone promontory at the southern tip of Spain; strategically important because it can control the entrance of ships into the Mediterranean; one of the Pillars of Hercules Capitol Hilla hill in Washington, D.C., where the Capitol Building sits and Congress meets Breed's Hilla hill in Charlestown that was the site of the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 Cape Hatterasa promontory on Hatteras Island off the Atlantic coast of North Carolina Black Hillsmountains in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming Guiana Highlandsa mountainous tableland in northern South America; extends from Venezuela into Guyana and northern Brazil Cameroonan inactive volcano in western Cameroon; highest peak on the West African coast Pico de Orizabaan extinct volcano in southern Mexico between Mexico City and Veracruz; the highest peak in Mexico (18,695 feet) Nevado de Colimaan active volcano in southwestern Mexico Cotacachian Andean volcano in northern Ecuador; last erupted in 1955 Cotopaxithe world's largest active volcano; located in the Andes in north central Ecuador Demavendan active volcano in northern Iran El Mistithe world's 2nd largest active volcano; located in the Andes in southern Peru Mount Etnaan inactive volcano in Sicily; last erupted in 1961; the highest volcano in Europe (10,500 feet) Fuegoa volcano in south central Guatemala Fujinoyamaan extinct volcano in south central Honshu that is the highest peak in Japan; last erupted in 1707; famous for its symmetrical snow-capped peak; a sacred mountain and site for pilgrimages Galerasan active volcano in southeastern Colombia in the Andes Guallatirithe world's highest volcano; in the Andes in northern Chile; last erupted in 1959 Huainaputinaan inactive volcano in the Andes in southern Peru; last erupted in 1783 Klyuchevskayaan inactive volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula; last erupted in 1946 Krakataoa small volcanic island in Indonesia between Java and Sumatra; its violent eruption in 1883 was the greatest in recorded history Lascara volcano in the Andes in Chile Mauna Keaan active volcano on north central Hawaii Island; highest peak in the Hawaiian Islands Mauna Loaan active volcano on south central Hawaii Island Nyamuragiraan active volcano in eastern Congo Nyiragongoan active volcano in eastern Congo Puracean inactive volcano in the Andes in southern Colombia; last erupted in 1950 Sangayan inactive volcano in the Andes in central Ecuador; last erupted in 1946 Tupungatitoan inactive volcano in central Chile; last erupted in 1959 Mount Saint Helensan active volcano in the Cascade Range in southwestern Washington; erupted violently in 1980 after 123 years of inactivity Mount Vesuviusa volcano in southwestern Italy on the Mediterranean coast; a Plinian eruption in 79 AD buried Pompeii and killed Pliny the Elder; last erupted in 1944 Adirondack Mountainsa mountain range in northeastern New York State; a popular resort area Admiralty Rangemountains in Antarctica to the north of Victoria Land Alaska Rangea mountain range in south central Alaska; contains Mount McKinley Allegheny Mountainsthe western part of the Appalachian Mountains; extending from northern Pennsylvania to southwestern Virginia the Alpsa large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction Altai Mountainsa mountain range in central Asia that extends a thousand miles from Kazakhstan eastward into western Mongolia and northern China Andesa mountain range in South America running 5000 miles along the Pacific coast Apenninesa mountain range extending the length of the Italian peninsula Appalachian Mountainsa mountain range in the eastern United States extending from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico; a historic barrier to early westward expansion of the United States Aristarchusa bright crater on the Moon Atacama Trencha depression in the floor of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile Atlantic Coasta coast of the Atlantic Ocean Atlas Mountainsa mountain range in northern Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara Desert; extends from southwestern Morocco to northern Tunisia Australian Alpsa range of mountains in Australia that forms the southern end of the Great Dividing Range Balkan Mountain Rangethe major mountain range of Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula Berkshire Hillsa low mountain range in western Massachusetts; a resort area Black Hillsmountains in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming; sacred to the Sioux (whites settling in the Black Hills led to the Battle of Little Bighorn); site of Mount Rushmore Blue Ridge Mountainsa range of the Appalachians extending from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia Bougainville Trencha depression in the floor of the Pacific Ocean between New Guinea and the Solomon Islands Cambrian Mountainsa rugged plateau that runs north to south through central Wales Cantabrian Mountainsa range of mountains in northern Spain along the coast of the Bay of Biscay Cape Canaverala sandy promontory (formerly Cape Kennedy) extending into the Atlantic Ocean from a barrier island off the eastern coast of Florida; the site of a NASA center for spaceflight Cape Sablea promontory on the far southern part of Nova Scotia Carlsbad Cavernsa group of caverns in southeastern New Mexico noted for their stalactites and stalagmites Carpathian Mountainsa mountain range in central Europe that extends from Slovakia and southern Poland southeastward through western Ukraine to northeastern Romania; a popular resort area Cascade Mountainsa mountain range in the northwestern United States extending through Washington and Oregon and northern California; a part of the Coast Range Catskill Mountainsa range of the Appalachians to the west of the Hudson in southeastern New York; includes many popular resort areas Caucasus Mountainsthe mountain range in Caucasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea that forms part of the traditional border between Europe and Asia Coast Mountainsa string of mountain ranges along the Pacific coast of North America from southeastern Alaska to Lower California Colorado Plateaua large plateau to the south and west of the Rocky Mountains; abuts mountains on the north and east and ends in an escarpment overlooking lowlands to the south and west; the Grand Canyon is carved out of the southwestern corner Copernicusa conspicuous crater on the Moon Cumberland Mountainsthe southwestern part of the Appalachians Dolomite Alpsan eastern range of the Alps in northeastern Italy famous for their dolomitic limestone Fingal's Cavea large cave with basaltic pillars on Staffa island in Scotland Great Dividing Rangea mountain range running along the eastern coast of Australia Great Rift Valley( geology) a depression in southwestern Asia and eastern Africa; extends from the valley of the Jordan River to Mozambique; marked by geological faults Great Smoky Mountainspart of the Appalachians between North Carolina and Tennessee Green Mountainsa range of the Appalachian Mountains that extends from south to north through Vermont Guadalupe Mountainsa mountain range in southern New Mexico and western Texas; the southern extension of the Sacramento Mountains Gulf Coasta seashore of the Gulf of Mexico Himalaya Mountainsa mountain range extending 1500 miles on the border between India and Tibet; this range contains the world's highest mountain Hindu Kush Mountainsa mountain range extending to the west of the Himalayas Japan Trencha depression in the floor of the Pacific Ocean to the northeast of Japan that reaches depths of 30,000 feet Jebel Musaa promontory in northern Morocco opposite the Rock of Gibraltar; one of the Pillars of Hercules Karakoram Rangea mountain range in northern Kashmir; an extension of the Hindu Kush; contains the 2nd highest peak Kuenlun Mountainsa mountain range in western China that extends eastward from the Indian border for 1000 miles Lascauxa cave in southwestern France that contains Paleolithic paintings Llano Estacadoa large semiarid plateau forming the southern part of the Great Plains Loire Valleythe valley of the Loire River where many French wines originated Massif Centrala mountainous plateau in southern France that covers almost one sixth of the country Great Mendenhall Glaciera glacier of the Piedmont type near Juneau in Alaska Mesabi Rangea range of hills in northeastern Minnesota where rich iron ore deposits were discovered in 1887 Mid-Atlantic Ridgea very long narrow elevation on the ocean floor that runs all the way from Iceland in the North Atlantic to Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Mount Carmela mountain range in northwestern Israel near the Mediterranean coast Nan Linga mountain range in southeastern China running generally east to west Nares Deepa depression in the floor of the Atlantic Ocean to the north of Haiti and Puerto Rico Old Faithfula geyser in Yellowstone National Park that erupts for about 4 minutes about every 65 minutes Ozark Mountainsan area of low mountains in northwestern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma Pacific Coasta coast of the Pacific Ocean Pamir Mountainsa mountain range in central Asia that is centered in Tajikistan but extends into Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan and Pakistan and western China Pyreneesa chain of mountains between France and Spain Rhodope Mountainsa mountain range in the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe; extends along the border between Greece and Bulgaria Rocky Mountainsthe chief mountain range of western North America; extends from British Columbia to northern New Mexico; forms the continental divide Sacramento Mountainsmountain range in New Mexico to the east of the Rio Grande San Fernando Valleya fertile valley in southern California to the north of Los Angeles; includes many residential communities San Joaquin Valleya vast valley in central California known for its rich farmland San Juan Hilla hill in eastern Cuba (near Santiago de Cuba) that was captured during the Spanish-American War San Juan Mountainsa mountain range in southwestern Colorado that is part of the Rocky Mountains Sayan Mountainsa range of mountains in southern Siberia to the west of Lake Baikal; contain important mineral deposits Selkirk Mountainsa range of the Rocky Mountains in southeastern British Columbia Shenandoah Valleya large valley between the Allegheny Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia; site of numerous battles during the American Civil War sierraa range of mountains (usually with jagged peaks and irregular outline) Sierra Madre Occidentala mountain range in northwestern Mexico that runs south from Arizona parallel to the Pacific coastline Sierra Madre Orientala mountain range in northeastern Mexico the runs parallel to the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico Sierra Nevada Mountainsa mountain range in eastern California; contains Mount Whitney Sierra Nevadaa mountain range in southern Spain along the Mediterranean coast to the east of Granada St. Elias Mountainsa range of mountains between Alaska and the Yukon territory Taconic Mountainsa range of the Appalachian Mountains along the eastern border of New York with Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont Teton Rangea mountain range in northwest Wyoming; contains the Grand Teton Tien Shana major mountain range of central Asia; extends 1,500 miles Transylvanian Alpsa range of the southern Carpathian Mountains extending across central Romania Tyrolean Alpsa popular tourist area in the Tyrol Ural Mountainsa mountain range in western Russia extending from the Arctic to the Caspian Sea; forms part of the traditional boundary between Europe and Asia Cataract Canyona tributary of the Grand Canyon Grand Canyonthe enormous gorge of the Colorado River in northern Arizona Great Barrier Reefthe largest coral reef in the world; in the Coral Sea off the northeastern coast of Australia Olduvai Gorgea gorge in northeastern Tanzania where anthropologists have found some of the earliest human remains Bikinian atoll in the Marshall Islands; formerly used by the United States as a site for testing nuclear weapons Eniwetokan atoll in the Marshall Islands; site of an amphibious assault in World War II; later used temporarily by the United States to test atomic bombs Kwajaleinan atoll in the western Marshall Islands that was used as a Japanese air and naval base during World War II Midway Islandsan atoll in the Hawaiian Islands some 1300 miles to the northwest of Honolulu; site of an important United States naval base aquifer underground bed or layer yielding ground water for wells and springs etc beachan area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake cavea geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea cliff, drop, drop-offa steep high face of rock deltaa low triangular area of alluvial deposits where a river divides before entering a larger body of water diapira domed rock formation where a core of rock has moved upward and pierced through the more brittle overlying strata foliuma thin layer or stratum of (especially metamorphic) rock foreshorethe part of the seashore between the highwater mark and the low-water mark ice massa large mass of ice lakefrontland bordering a lake massifa block of the earth's crust bounded by faults and shifted to form peaks of a mountain range monoclinea geological formation in which all strata are inclined in the same direction mouththe point where a stream issues into a larger body of water depression, natural depressiona sunken or depressed geological formation elevation, natural elevationa raised or elevated geological formation oceanfrontland bordering an ocean chain, chain of mountains, mountain chain, mountain range, range, range of mountainsa series of hills or mountains relictgeological feature that is a remnant of a pre-existing formation after other parts have disappeared ridge, ridgelinea long narrow range of hills ridgea long narrow natural elevation on the floor of the ocean shorethe land along the edge of a body of water incline, side, slopean elevated geological formation fountain, natural spring, outflow, outpouring, springa natural flow of ground water scree, talusa sloping mass of loose rocks at the base of a cliff mineral vein, veina layer of ore between layers of rock crater, volcanic cratera bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano walla vertical (or almost vertical) smooth rock face (as of a cave or mountain) groundwater level, water level, water tableunderground surface below which the ground is wholly saturated with water aretea sharp narrow ridge found in rugged mountains acclivity, ascent, climb, raise, rise, upgradean upward slope or grade (as in a road) banksloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water) bank, camber, canta slope in the turn of a road or track; the outside is higher than the inside in order to reduce the effects of centrifugal force basina natural depression in the surface of the land often with a lake at the bottom of it bed, bottoma depression forming the ground under a body of water bonanzaan especially rich vein of precious ore calderaa large crater caused by the violent explosion of a volcano that collapses into a depression canyonsidethe steeply sloping side of a canyon caverna large cave or a large chamber in a cave coasta slope down which sleds may coast covesmall or narrow cave in the side of a cliff or mountain craga steep rugged rock or cliff cratera bowl-shaped depression formed by the impact of a meteorite or bomb declension, declination, decline, declivity, descent, downslope, falla downward slope or bend escarpment, scarpa long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau or ridge; usually formed by erosion Fountain of Youtha fountain described in folk tales as able to make people young again geysera spring that discharges hot water and steam glaciera slowly moving mass of ice grot, grottoa small cave (usually with attractive features) highland, uplandelevated (e.g., mountainous) land hilla local and well-defined elevation of the land hillsidethe side or slope of a hill hogback, horsebacka narrow ridge of hills hole, hollowa depression hollowed out of solid matter hot spring, thermal springa natural spring of water at a temperature of 70 F or above berg, iceberga large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier ice cap, icecapa mass of ice and snow that permanently covers a large area of land (e.g., the polar regions or a mountain peak) ice fielda large flat mass of ice (larger than an ice floe) floating at sea floe, ice floea flat mass of ice (smaller than an ice field) floating at sea lakeshore, lakesidethe shore of a lake lowlandlow level country maara flat-bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion; often filled with water mount, mountaina land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill mountainside, versantthe side or slope of a mountain piedmonta gentle slope leading from the base of a mountain to a region of flat land plagethe beach at a seaside resort precipicea very steep cliff foreland, head, headland, promontorya natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea) ridgea long narrow natural elevation or striation coast, sea-coast, seacoast, seashorethe shore of a sea or ocean sink, sinkhole, swallow holea depression in the ground communicating with a subterranean passage (especially in limestone) and formed by solution or by collapse of a cavern roof ski slopea snow-covered slope for skiing stranda poetic term for a shore (as the area periodically covered and uncovered by the tides) swella rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor) deep, oceanic abyss, trencha long steep-sided depression in the ocean floor trougha narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed) vale, valleya long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river object, physical object a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow |
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