shape

[ sheyp ]

/ ʃeɪp /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shape ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of specific form or figure.

this quality as found in some individual object or body form: This lake has a peculiar shape.

something seen in outline, as in silhouette: A vague shape appeared through the mist.

an imaginary form; phantom.

an assumed appearance; guise: an angel in the shape of a woman.

a particular or definite organized form or expression: He could give no shape to his ideas.

proper form; orderly arrangement.

condition or state of repair: The old house was in bad shape. He was sick last year, but is in good shape now.

the collective conditions forming a way of life or mode of existence: What will the shape of the future be?

the figure, physique, or body of a person, especially of a woman: A dancer can keep her shape longer than those of us who have sedentary jobs.

something used to give form, as a mold or a pattern.

Also called section. Building Trades, Metalworking. a flanged metal beam or bar of uniform section, as a channel iron, I-beam, etc.

Nautical. a ball, cone, drum, etc., used as a day signal, singly or in combinations, to designate a vessel at anchor or engaged in some particular operation.

verb (used with object), shaped, shap·ing.

to give definite form, shape, organization, or character to; fashion or form.

to couch or express in words: to shape a statement.

to adjust; adapt: He shaped everything to suit his taste.

to direct (one's course, future, etc.).

to file the teeth of (a saw) to uniform width after jointing.

Animal Behavior, Psychology. to teach (a desired behavior) to a human or other animal by successively rewarding the actions that more and more closely approximate that behavior.

Obsolete. to appoint; decree.

verb (used without object), shaped, shap·ing.

to come to a desired conclusion or take place in a specified way: If discussions shape properly, the companies will merge.

Verb Phrases

shape up,

to assume a specific form: The plan is beginning to shape up.
to evolve or develop, especially favorably.
to improve one's behavior or performance to meet a required standard.
to get oneself into good physical condition.
(of longshoremen) to get into a line or formation in order to be assigned the day's work.

Nearby words

Idioms

take shape, to assume a fixed form; become definite: The house is beginning to take shape.

Origin of shape

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English gesceapu (plural); replacing dial. shap, Middle English; Old English gesceap (singular); cognate with Old Norse skap state, mood; (v.) Middle English; Old English sceapen (past participle); replacing Middle English sheppe, shippe, Old English sceppan, scyppan; cognate with German schaffen, Old Norse skepja, Gothic -skapjan to make

SYNONYMS FOR shape

1. silhouette, appearance. See form. 4. specter, illusion. 7. order, pattern. 8. order, situation. 14. mold, model.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shape ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

shap·a·ble, shape·a·ble, adjectiveout·shape, verb (used with object), out·shaped, out·shap·ing.pre·shape, noun, verb (used with object), pre·shaped, pre·shap·ing.trans·shape, verb (used with object), trans·shaped, trans·shap·ing.

un·shap·a·ble, adjectiveun·shape·a·ble, adjectiveun·shap·ing, adjective

SHAPE

or Shape

[ sheyp ]

/ ʃeɪp /

noun

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shapes

Thinking about, with all that is in the past and the way it shapes the present, how do you go forward into the future?
Tony Earley's Imaginary Friends|Mindy Farabee|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Peggy has a reputation for miraculously fitting women of all shapes and sizes, and she more than lives up to it.
New York's Sexiest Kosher Corsets|Emily Shire|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who shapes what the public comes to see as truth, and how truthful is that truth?
How the ‘Witch Hunt’ Myth Undermined American Justice|Jason Berry|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It shapes the beliefs of everyone, but gives power to the those of the favored group.
A Killer's Racist Rants|Jamelle Bouie|February 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Forming the shapes of the Lincoln Memorial and a cannon among others, Buckeye fans got an entertaining and educational show.
Exploding Whale, Black Friday and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|November 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As the skill increases, shapes with double curves and long or narrow necks may eventually be achieved.
Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers|George J. Cox
So may have looked afrites or the shapes metamorphosed from the vapour of the fisherman's vase.
Roads of Destiny|O. Henry
The same law that shapes the earth and the stars shapes the snowflake.
The Log of the Sun|William Beebe
The shapes and faces that the hills of sand built round him were the play of excited fancy only.
Four Weird Tales|Algernon Blackwood
The shore was strewn with timber and pieces of plank of all shapes.
The Rival Crusoes|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for shapes

shape

/ (ʃeɪp) /

noun

the outward form of an object defined by outline

the figure or outline of the body of a person

a phantom

organized or definite formmy plans are taking shape

the form that anything assumes; guise

something used to provide or define form; pattern; mould

condition or state of efficiencyto be in good shape

out of shape

in bad physical condition
bent, twisted, or deformed

take shape to assume a definite form

verb

(when intr, often foll by into or up) to receive or cause to receive shape or form

(tr) to mould into a particular pattern or form; modify

(tr) to plan, devise, or prepareto shape a plan of action

an obsolete word for appoint

Derived Formsshapable or shapeable, adjectiveshaper, noun

Word Origin for shape

Old English gesceap, literally: that which is created, from scieppan to create; related to sceap sexual organs, Old Norse skap destiny, Old High German scaf form

SHAPE

/ (ʃeɪp) /

n acronym for

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for shapes

shape

Old English scapan, past participle of scieppan "to create, form, destine" (past tense scop), from Proto-Germanic *skapjanan "create, ordain" (cf. Old Norse skapa, Danish skabe, Old Saxon scapan, Old Frisian skeppa, Middle Dutch schappen "do, treat," Old High German scaffan, German schaffen "shape, create, produce"), from PIE root *(s)kep- a base forming words meaning "to cut, scrape, hack" (see scabies), which acquired broad technical senses and in Germanic a specific sense of "to create."

Old English scieppan survived into Middle English as shippen, but shape emerged as a regular verb (with past tense shaped) by 1500s. The old past participle form shapen survives in misshapen. Middle English shepster (late 14c.) "dressmaker, female cutter-out," is literally "shape-ster," from Old English scieppan.

Meaning "to form in the mind" is from late 14c. Phrase Shape up (v.) is literally "to give form to by stiff or solid material;" attested from 1865 as "progress;" from 1938 as "reform;" shape up or ship out is attested from 1956, originally U.S. military slang, with the sense being "do right or get shipped up to active duty."

shape

Old English sceap, gesceap "form; created being, creature; creation; condition; sex, genitalia," from root of shape (v.)). Meaning "contours of the body" is attested from late 14c. Meaning "condition, state" is first recorded 1865, American English. In Middle English, the word in plural also had a sense of "a woman's private parts." Shape-shifter attested from 1820. Out of shape "not in proper shape" is from 1690s. Shapesmith "one who undertakes to improve the form of the body" was used in 1715.

Idioms and Phrases with shapes

shape

In addition to the idiom beginning with shape

shape up

also see:

bent out of shape
in condition (shape)
lick into shape
take shape

shape

noun

verb (used with object), shaped, shap·ing.

verb (used without object), shaped, shap·ing.

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of shape

SHAPE

or Shape

noun

Examples from the Web for shapes

shape

noun

verb

Word Origin for shape

SHAPE

n acronym for

shape

shape

shape