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Definition of formula noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

formula

noun
 OPAL W
 
/ˈfɔːmjələ/
 
/ˈfɔːrmjələ/
(plural formulas or formulae
 
/ˈfɔːmjəliː/
 
/ˈfɔːrmjəliː/
)
Formulae is used especially in scientific language.
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  1.  
    [countable] (mathematics) a series of letters, numbers or symbols that represent a rule or law
    • This formula is used to calculate the area of a circle.
    Topics Maths and measurementc1, Scientific researchc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • complex
    • complicated
    • simple
    • …
    verb + formula
    • devise
    • work out
    • apply
    • …
    preposition
    • formula for
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable] (chemistry) letters and symbols that show the parts of a chemical compound, etc.
    • CO is the formula for carbon monoxide.
    Wordfinder
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • complex
    • complicated
    • simple
    • …
    verb + formula
    • devise
    • work out
    • apply
    • …
    preposition
    • formula for
    See full entry
  3.  
    [countable] a particular method of doing or achieving something
    • They're trying to work out a peace formula acceptable to both sides in the dispute.
    • All the patients were interviewed according to a standard formula.
    • formula for something/for doing something There's no magic formula for a perfect marriage.
    • We think we might have hit on a winning formula.
    Extra Examples
    • Each of his novels follows the same successful formula.
    • What is their formula for success?
    • The government was forced to find a face-saving formula to cover its misjudgement.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • good
    • magic
    • successful
    • …
    verb + formula
    • have
    • follow
    • come up with
    • …
    preposition
    • formula for
    See full entry
  4. [countable] a list of the things that something is made from, giving the amount of each substance to use
    • the secret formula for the blending of the whisky
  5. (also formula milk)
     [uncountable, countable] a type of liquid food for babies, given instead of breast milk
  6. [countable] a class of racing car, based on engine size, etc.
    • Formula One™ racing
  7. [countable] a fixed form of words used in a particular situation
    • What are the correct legal formulae for this kind of letter?
    • The minister keeps coming out with the same tired formulas.
    8. Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘fixed form of words’): from Latin, diminutive of forma ‘shape, mould’.
See formula in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee formula in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: formula

Nearby words

given
adjective
 
 
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OPAL spoken words
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