FORMULA

convention, normal, pattern, rule, formula

(noun) 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”

rule, formula

(noun) (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”

formula, expression

(noun) a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement

formula

(noun) a conventionalized statement expressing some fundamental principle

recipe, formula

(noun) directions for making something

formula, chemical formula

(noun) a representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements

formula

(noun) a liquid food for infants

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

formula (plural formulae or formulas or formulæ)

(mathematics) Any mathematical rule expressed symbolically.

Synonym: mathematical formula

$\backslash (x\; =\; \backslash frac\; \{-b\; \backslash pm\; \backslash sqrt\{b^2\; -\; 4ac\}\}\{2a\}\backslash )$ is a formula for finding the roots of the quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0.

(chemistry) A symbolic expression of the structure of a compound.

Synonym: chemical formula

A plan or method for dealing with a problem or for achieving a result.

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

A formal statement of doctrine, as in religion.

(countable, uncountable) Ellipsis of infant formula.; drink given to babies to substitute for mother's milk.

(logic) A 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.

Hyponym: sentence

Source: Wiktionary

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For"mu*la, n.; pl. E. Formulas, L. Formulæ. Etym: [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.

2. (Eccl.)

Definition: A written confession of faith; a formal statement of foctrines.

3. (Math.)

Definition: A rule or principle expressed in algebraic language; as, the binominal formula.

4. (Med.)

Definition: A prescription or recipe for the preparation of a medicinal compound.

5. (Chem.)

Definition: A symbolic expression (by means of letters, figures, etc.) of the constituents or constitution of a compound.

Note: Chemical formulæ 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. 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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