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Formation vs Preformation - What's the difference?

formation | preformation |

As nouns the difference between formation and preformation

is that formation is formation while preformation is prior formation.

formation

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something possessing structure or form.
  • The act of assembling a group or structure.
  • (geology) A rock or face of a mountain.
  • (military) A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc.
  • (military) An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".
  • The process of influencing or guiding a person to a deeper understanding of a particular vocation.
  • Synonyms

    * (military grouping of units) battle group, brigade group, task force, combat team * (military arrangement of forces) tactical formation, battle formation

    preformation

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Prior formation.
  • (biology, historical) The theory that organisms are fully developed in the form of an egg or seed, and just increase in size (as opposed to (epigenesis).
  • *1999 , (Matt Ridley), Genome , Harper Perennial 2004, p. 174:
  • *:Preformation , as even Aristotle spotted, merely postpones the problem, for how did the homunculus get its shape?