format Definition
for·mat (fôr′mat′)
noun
- the shape, size, binding, typeface, paper, and general makeup or arrangement of a book, magazine, etc.
- general arrangement or plan, as of a television program
- a specific arrangement in accordance with which computer data is processed, stored, printed, etc.
- a particular audio or video recording and playback system, as VHS
Etymology: Ger + L formatus, pp. of formare: see form
transitive verb -·mat′·ted, -·mat′·ting
to arrange according to a format
format Synonyms
format Telecom Definition
- The structure, organization, presentation, or appearance of a set of data in a document. The format of a set of data can include the coding scheme (e.g., ASCII, EBCDIC, or Unicode) and any compression technique (e.g., GIF, JPEG, MPEG-2, or MPEG-4) that might have been employed. In an e-mail application, textual data can be formatted as plain text or rich text, with the latter supporting bold, italics, and underline. The format of the data must be compatible with the application software that attempts to read it. See also ASCII, coding scheme, compression, EBCDIC, GIF, JPEG, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, plain text, rich text, and Unicode.
- The arrangement of fields of data in a block, frame, or cell. See also data format.
format Usage Examples
Converse of object
- compress: Installing UNiBACK from a file When you download the demo, it will be in compressed tar format.
- interchange: By contrast EDIF was created as a language for doing design as well as an interchange format for design data.
- encode: An encoding format that translates files into 7-bit format for transmission over the Internet.
- specify: RFC 822 was intended to specify a format for text messages.
Adjective modifier
- electronic: A charge may also be made for storage media for information requested in electronic format.
- digital: It can also be subsequently scanned to a digital format for enhanced access.
- proprietary: The signal is NTSC, digitized and compressed via a proprietary format and decompressed by a set-top box.
- alternative: Alternative formats Please remember to tell us whether you want Email txt file, Large print, Small print or Braille.
- accessible: The summaries will also be available on request in a variety of accessible formats.
- preferred: However, you may not have a copy in your preferred format.
Modifies a noun
- string: Each character from the format string is appended to the result string unless it is a percent sign.
- conversion: The 562V.2 incorporated PC setup, more S-Video inputs and S-Video to Composite format conversion.
Noun used with modifier
- PDF: These books are in PDF format, for which you need an Acrobat Reader.
- pdf: The document can be accessed in pdf format, for which Adobe Acrobat is required.
- .pdf: The .pdf file format opens in adobe acrobat reader.
- file: The program supports all popular file formats - from simple mailing lists to The Bat!
- data: This will sort in ascending order, either numerically or alphabetically depending on the data format.
- metadata: A number of metadata formats currently exist, influenced by the needs of the communities in which they emerged.
Possessives
solitaire: Adapted from the Windmills program ( Peter Hawkins, University of Liverpool ), these electronic resource use the ' solitaire ' game format.
Preposition: for
downloading: Rehabilitation Courses for Drink Drive Offenders has also been made available in Adobe Acrobat format for downloading.
Browse dictionary entries near format
- ‹ formant
- ‹ formalwear
- ‹ formally
- ‹ formalize
- ‹ formality
- ‹ formalism
- ‹ formalin
- ‹ formaldehyde
- ‹ formal logic
- ‹ formal
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