| preform | (v) form into a shape resembling the final, desired one |
| preform | (v) form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand |
| preformation | (n) a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell, Syn. theory of preformation |
| Preform | v. t. [ L. praeformare. See Pre-, and Form. ] To form beforehand, or for special ends. “Their natures and preformed faculties. ” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Preformation | n. (Biol.) An old theory of the preëxistence of germs. Cf. Emboîtement. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Preformative | n. A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| 前成説 | [ぜんせいせつ, zenseisetsu] (n) (See 後成説) preformation (theory) [Add to Longdo] |