formula
UK /ˈfɔː.mjʊ.lə/ · US /ˈfɔɹ.mjə.lə/ noun
Forms formulas formulae formulæ
- noun (mathematics) Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically.
- noun (chemistry) A symbolic expression of the structure of a compound. “H₂O is the formula for water.”
- noun A plan or method for dealing with a problem or for achieving a result. “The company's winning formula includes excellent service and quality products.”
- noun A formulation; a prescription; a mixture or solution made in a prescribed manner; the identity and quantities of ingredients of such a mixture. “The formula of the rocket fuel has not been revealed.”
- noun (chiefly linguistics) A fixed phrase or set of words intended to be interpreted non-literally, typically used attitudinally or as part of convention; a formulation. “Avoid the typical epistolic formalae, such as "Kind regards".”
- noun (especially religion) A formal statement of doctrine.
- noun (logic) A syntactic expression of a proposition, built up from quantifiers, logical connectives, variables, relation and operation symbols, and, depending on the type of logic, possibly other operators such as modal, temporal, deontic or epistemic ones.
Synonyms
mathematical formula chemical formula expression recipe convention normal pattern rule
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin fōrmula (“a small pattern or mold, form, rule, principle, method, formula”), diminutive of forma (“a form”). See form.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A prescribed or set form; an established rule; a fixed or conventional method in which anything is to be done, arranged, or said.
- noun A written confession of faith; a formal statement of foctrines.
Etymology [L., dim. of forma form, model. SeeForm, n.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “formula”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details