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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Formula \For"mu*la\, noun; pl. E. {Formulas}, L. {Formul[ae]}. [L., dim. of forma form, model. See{Form}, noun]
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.) A written confession of faith; a formal statement of foctrines.
3. (Math.) A rule or principle expressed in algebraic language; as, the binominal formula.
4. (Med.) A prescription or recipe for the preparation of a medicinal compound.
5. (Chem.) A symbolic expression (by means of letters, figures, etc.) of the constituents or constitution of a compound.
Note: Chemical formul[ae] 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.
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