format: Meaning and Definition of

for•mat

1. the shape and size of a book as determined by the number of times the original sheet has been folded to form the leaves. Cf. duodecimo, folio (def. 2),
2. the general physical appearance of a book, magazine, or newspaper, such as the typeface, binding, quality of paper, margins, etc.
3. the organization, plan, style, or type of something: The format of the show allowed for topical and controversial gags.
4. the arrangement of data for computer input or output, such as the number and size of fields in a record or the spacing and punctuation of information in a report.

1. to plan or provide a format for: to format the annual telethon.
2. Some word-processing programs format output in a variety of ways.
1. to set the format of (input or output):Some word-processing programs format output in a variety of ways.
2. to prepare (a disk) for writing and reading.

1. to devise a format.