Definition of formal. Meaning of formal. Synonyms of formal

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word formal. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word formal and, of course, formal synonyms and on the right images related to the word formal.

Definition of formal

formal
Methylal Meth"yl*al, n. [Methylene + alcohol.] (Chem.) A light, volatile liquid, H2C(OCH3)2, regarded as a complex ether, and having a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the partial oxidation of methyl alcohol. Called also formal.
Formal
Formal For"mal (f[^o]r"mal), n. [L. formic + alcohol.] (Chem.) See Methylal.
Formal
Formal Form"al (f[^o]rm"al), a. [L. formalis: cf. F. formel.] 1. Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing. 2. Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect. Of [the sounds represented by] letters, the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motion and figure of the organs of speech. --Holder. 3. Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent. His obscure funeral . . . No noble rite nor formal ostentation. --Shak. 4. Devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation. A cold-looking, formal garden, cut into angles and rhomboids. --W. Irwing. She took off the formal cap that confined her hair. --Hawthorne. 5. Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc. 6. Dependent in form; conventional. Still in constraint your suffering sex remains, Or bound in formal or in real chains. --Pope. 7. Sound; normal. [Obs.] To make of him a formal man again. --Shak. Formal cause. See under Cause. Syn: Precise; punctilious; stiff; starched; affected; ritual; ceremonial; external; outward. Usage: Formal, Ceremonious. When applied to things, these words usually denote a mere accordance with the rules of form or ceremony; as, to make a formal call; to take a ceremonious leave. When applied to a person or his manners, they are used in a bad sense; a person being called formal who shapes himself too much by some pattern or set form, and ceremonious when he lays too much stress on the conventional laws of social intercourse. Formal manners render a man stiff or ridiculous; a ceremonious carriage puts a stop to the ease and freedom of social intercourse.

Meaning of formal from wikipedia

- Ancient Gr****). They may refer to: Formal wear, attire for formal events Semi-formal attire, attire for semi-formal events Informal attire, more controlled...
- In logic and philosophy, a formal fallacy is a pattern of reasoning rendered invalid by a flaw in its logical structure. Propositional logic, for example...
- A formal grammar describes which strings from an alphabet of a formal language are valid according to the language's syntax. A grammar does not describe...
- Formal wear or full dress is the Western dress code category applicable for the most formal occasions, such as weddings, christenings, confirmations,...
- In computer science, formal methods are mathematically rigorous techniques for the specification, development, analysis, and verification of software and...
- Formal science is a branch of science studying disciplines concerned with abstract structures described by formal systems, such as logic, mathematics...
- and linguistics, a formal language is a set of strings whose symbols are taken from a set called "alphabet". The alphabet of a formal language consists...
- In computer science, formal specifications are mathematically based techniques whose purpose is to help with the implementation of systems and software...
- and mathematics, a formal proof or derivation is a finite sequence of sentences (known as well-formed formulas when relating to formal language), each of...
- In philosophy, the term formal ontology is used to refer to an ontology defined by axioms in a formal language with the goal to provide an unbiased (domain-...