shape

[ sheyp ]

/ ʃeɪp /

SEE 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.

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orchard

body of land completely surrounded by water

group of cultivated fruit trees

long mournful cry

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Idioms for shape

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 SYNONYMS FOR shape ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM shape

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

Words nearby shape

shanty, shantytown, shanxi, shaoxing, shaoyang, shape, shape note, shape up, shape-note singing, shape-up, shaped

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for shaping

Women deserve to have meaningful roles in the shaping of the future of Afghanistan.
We’re Not Done in Afghanistan|Kimberley Motley|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Apparently, 2016 is not shaping up as a Democratic slam dunk.
2016 Is No Democratic Slam Dunk|Lloyd Green|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this is shaping up to be the hottest product of the year, so your favorite techie will surely appreciate an I.O.U from Santa.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Richard Hendriks in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It sounds like the kind of decision that a candidate and a campaign would be instrumental in shaping,” she said.
Is Ready for Hillary Ready to Fold—or Work With Candidate Clinton?|David Freedlander|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For many African Americans, this is shaping up to be the Ferguson Election.
Can Ferguson Swing the Election?|Joshua DuBois|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus also with the shaping of character, and thus was Mr. Marrapit, collected in minor affairs, mighty in this crisis.
Once Aboard The Lugger|Arthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson
Beaver-dams have had much to do with the shaping and creating of a great deal of the richest agricultural land in America.
Wild Life on the Rockies|Enos A. Mills
The river was splitting into a dozen smaller streams, shaping out fanlike.
The Time Traders|Andre Norton
Far from being buried in the past it remained the chief factor in her life, colouring and shaping the whole of her future.
Prisoners|Mary Cholmondeley
He who chooses may read betwixt the lines of history this great truth: Evil itself is an instrument toward the shaping of good.
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates|Howard Pyle

British Dictionary definitions for shaping (1 of 2)

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 forms of shape

shapable 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

British Dictionary definitions for shaping (2 of 2)

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

Medical definitions for shaping

shaping

[ shā′pĭng ]

n.

A technique that is used in operant conditioning in which the behavior is modified by stepwise reinforcement of behaviors that produce progressively closer approximations of the desired behavior.

Idioms and Phrases with shaping

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

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shape

noun

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