Formation

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act of giving form or shape to anything; a forming; a shaping. Beattie.

2. The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation; form; as, the peculiar formation of the heart.

3. A substance formed or deposited.

4. Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers; alluvial formations; marine formations.

5. A group of beds of the same age or period; as, the Eocene formation.

6. The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column, etc. Farrow.