Definition of "format" in English

noun

1. The layout of a publication or document.

2. (by extension) The form of presentation of something.

3. (radio) The type of programming that a radio station broadcasts; such as a certain genre of music, news, sports, talk, etc.

   • The radio station changed the format of its evening program.

4. (computing) A file type.

verb

1. To create or edit the layout of a document.

2. Change a document so it will fit onto a different type of page.

3. (computing) To prepare a mass storage medium for initial use, erasing any existing data in the process.

   • I lost weeks of work when I inadvertently formatted my hard drive.