[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

formula \for"mula\, n.; pl. e. formulas, l. formulae.
   l., dim. of forma form, model. seeform, n.
   1. a prescribed or set form; an established rule; a fixed or
      conventional method in which anything is to be done,
      arranged, or said.
      1913 webster

   2. eccl. a written confession of faith; a formal statement
      of foctrines.
      1913 webster

   3. math. a rule or principle expressed in algebraic
      language; as, the binominal formula.
      1913 webster

   4. med. a prescription or recipe for the preparation of a
      medicinal compound.
      1913 webster

   5. chem. a symbolic expression by means of letters,
      figures, etc. of the constituents or constitution of a
      compound.
      1913 webster

   note: chemical formulae consist of the abbreviations of the
         names of the elements, with a small figure at the lower
         right hand, to denote the number of atoms of each
         element contained.
         1913 webster

   empirical formula chem., an expression which gives the
      simple proportion of the constituents; as, the empirical
      formula of acetic acid is c2h4o2.

   graphic formula, rational formula chem., an expression
      of the constitution, and in a limited sense of the
      structure, of a compound, by the grouping of its atoms or
      radicals; as, a rational formula of acetic acid is
      ch3.c:o.oh; -- called also structural formula,
      constitutional formula, etc. see also the formula of
      benzene nucleus, under benzene.

   molecular formula chem., a formula indicating the
      supposed molecular constitution of a compound.
      1913 webster
see also:
formulas formulae form empirical formula c2h4o2 graphic formula 
rational formula ch3.c:o.oh structural formula constitutional formula benzene nucleus 
benzene molecular formula 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

formula
     n 1: a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement syn:
          expression
     2: directions for making something syn: recipe
     3: a conventionalized statement expressing some fundamental
        principle
     4: a representation of a substance using symbols for its
        constituent elements syn: chemical formula
     5: something regarded as a normative example; "the convention
        of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule
        not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"
        syn: convention, normal, pattern, rule
     6: a liquid food for infants
     7: mathematics a standard procedure for solving a class of
        mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with
        descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula
        for attacking polynomials" syn: rule
     also: formulae pl
see also:
expression recipe chemical formula convention normal pattern 
rule formulae 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

formulae
     see formula
see also:
formula 

Formulae >> F Words
Formulae, definition of term: Formulae
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