Definition of "formation"

formation

/fɔːˈmeɪ.ʃən/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural formations
1. The act of assembling a group or structure.
  Quotations
  Some cloud formation was confirmed and rainfall was observed over some islands.mw-parser-output .k-player .k-attribution{visibility:hidden}Audio (US)(file)
  2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
2. Something possessing structure or form.
3. The process during which something comes into being and gains its characteristics.
4. (military) A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc.
5. (geology) A layer of rock of common origin.
  Quotations
  Over a broad region, the color of a formation may change.
  2012, Chinle Miller, In Mesozoic Lands: The Mesozoic Geology of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Kindle edition
6. (military) An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".
7. (sports) An arrangement of players designed to facilitate certain plays.
  Quotations
  N'Golo Kanté embodies both sides of this, a player whose early scratchiness was soothed with glorious results in the new 3-4-3 formation, allowed simply to be his best, most wonderfully mobile, diligent, destructive self.
  2017 May 13, Barney Ronay, “Antonio Conte’s brilliance has turned Chelsea’s pop-up team into champions”, in the Guardian‎
8. The process of influencing or guiding a person to a deeper understanding of a particular vocation.
9. (category theory) A structure made of two categories, two functors from the first to the second category, and a transformation from one of the functors to the other.