formate /ˈfɔː(ɹ)meɪt/noun 1/fɔː(ɹ)ˈmeɪt/ verb 1forms 3 noun1 •Any salt or ester of formic acid. formate /fɔː(ɹ)ˈmeɪt/ verb1 •To assemble flying aircraft into formation; to fly in formation.Tiger Moths from the Reserve Flying Schools at Rochester and Cambridge competed with each other at formating in the gusty conditions, Rochester just winning. — 1949 formsformated · formating · formates