formula

plural formulas · plural formulae · archaic plural formulæ

1. countableuncountablemathematicsAny mathematical rule expressed symbolically.

   x=(-b±√(b²-4ac))/(2a) is a formula for finding the roots of the quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0.

   Synonyms: mathematical formula

2. countableuncountablechemistryA symbolic expression of the structure of a compound.

   H₂O is the formula for water.

   Synonyms: chemical formula

3. countableuncountableA plan or method for dealing with a problem or for achieving a result.

   The company's winning formula includes excellent service and quality products.

   2 more examples

   Shakespeare has gone back to the formula of last season, by encouraging his players to press high up the pitch and restoring Shinji Okazaki to the starting XI to scurry around between midfield and attack.

   2017 March 14, Stuart James, “Leicester stun Sevilla to reach last eight after Kasper Schmeichel save”, in the Guardian

   Delays, large and small, have a huge variety of causes, so there is no magic formula for preventing them.

   2019 October, Ian Walmsley, “Cleaning up”, in Modern Railways, page 42

4. countableuncountableA formulation; a prescription; a mixture or solution made in a prescribed manner; the identity and quantities of ingredients of such a mixture.

   The formula of the rocket fuel has not been revealed.

5. countableuncountablehuman sciencesA fixed phrase or set of words intended to be interpreted non-literally, typically used attitudinally or as part of convention; a formulation.

   Avoid the typical epistolic formalae, such as "Kind regards".

6. countableespeciallyuncountablelifestyleA formal statement of doctrine.

   The extract from the Missal of Constance, which was printed before the editio princeps […] does not contain the formulae for Advent, Sundays after Epiphany, Lent and the Sundays after Easter and Pentecost; […]

   2004, Thomas Fisch, editor, Primary Readings on the Eucharist, Liturgical Press, →ISBN, footnote, page 34

7. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of infant formula, drink given to babies to substitute for mother's milk.

   They tried switching formulas, and it seemed to work: the baby seemed more content while feeding.

   1 more example

   Many women advocate for formula, insisting that women who advocate breast-feeding have become self-righteous “lactavists,” as one writer puts it.

   2018, Kristin Lawless, Formerly known as food, →ISBN

8. countableuncountablehuman sciencesA syntactic expression of a proposition, built up from quantifiers, logical connectives, variables, relation and operation symbols, and, depending on the type of logic, possibly other operators such as modal, temporal, deontic or epistemic ones.