format

Noun

• the general appearance of a publication

• the organization of information according to preset specifications (usually for computer processing)

Verb

• divide (a disk) into marked sectors so that it may store data
  • Please format this disk before entering data!
    

• determine the arrangement of (data) for storage and display (in computer science)

• set (printed matter) into a specific format
  • Format this letter so it can be printed out
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  formatting , data format , data formatting , initialize , initialise , arrange