for‧ma‧tion W3 / fɔmeɪʃ ə n $ fɔr- / 名词

1 [不可数名词] the process of starting a new organization or group 同义词 creation

formation of

the formation of a new government

2 [不可数名词] the process by which something develops into a particular thing or shape

formation of

the substances which lead to the formation of ozone

We now know a lot more about the early stages of planetary formation.

3 [可数名词] the way in which a group of things are arranged to form a pattern or shape :

troop formations

4 in formation if a group of planes, ships, soldiers etc are moving in formation, they are flying, marching etc in a particular order or pattern :

a squadron of aircraft, flying in formation

5 [可数和不可数名词] rock or cloud that is formed in a particular shape, or the shape in which it is formed

rock/cloud formation

the canyon’s impressive rock formations

6 [可数和不可数名词] technical society, politics etc seen as a system of practices and beliefs

social/political/cultural etc formation

Marx founded a new science: the science of the history of social formations.