formation noun
1 making/developing sth
ADJ. policy the top civil servants who are responsible for policy formation
VERB + FORMATION lead to, result in This dispute led to the formation of a new breakaway group.
2 arrangement/group/pattern
ADJ. close, tight | battle The troops advanced in battle formation. | family, household, social changing patterns of marriage and family formation
FORMATION + NOUN dancing, flying
PREP. in a … ~ The men were grouped in a close formation. | in ~ a squadron of planes flying in formation
3 sth that has been formed
ADJ. cloud, geological, rock | military, political
You can also check other dicts: formation (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition