tzurat

Tzurat is a Hebrew term written צורת and commonly translated as form, shape, or outline. In everyday language it refers to the visible or perceived structure of an object, whether natural or man-made. In linguistic and grammatical usage, tzurat denotes the form or shape referred to in description or analysis.

Etymology and grammar: The word tzurat is the construct state of the feminine noun tzura (צורה, “shape”). The form צורת appears when tzura is in a construct relationship before another noun, for example tzurat ha-davar “the form of the thing” or tzurat ha-yeled “the form of the boy.” This construct usage is a standard feature of Hebrew morphology and is not restricted to any particular domain.

Usage: Tzurat appears across many contexts. In geometry, design, and architecture it can describe the external contour or silhouette of objects. In art and aesthetics it may refer to the overall appearance or configuration of a work. In science and biology, tzurat can be used to discuss morphology or the external form of organisms. In literary and religious texts, it often appears in discussions about representation, symbolism, and the relationship between form and meaning.

See also: tzura (shape), morphology.

Notes: Tzurat is a productive tool in Hebrew for linking “form of” to a following noun, and it is cognate with related terms that express structure, configuration, and appearance. The concept is widely understood in both modern and classical Hebrew, though exact nuance depends on context.