formulate in WordNet English dictionary

1. put into words or an expression
   "He formulated his concerns to the board of trustees"
   give voice  formulate  word  phrase  articulate 
   
2. come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
   "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light"
   invent  contrive  devise  excogitate  formulate  forge 
   
3. elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
   "Could you develop the ideas in your thesis"
   explicate  formulate  develop 
   
4. prepare according to a formula
   formulate