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.
Idioms for shape
take shape, to assume a fixed form; become definite: The house is beginning to take shape.
Origin of shape
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English gesceapu (plural); replacing dialectal shap, Middle English; Old English gesceap (singular); cognate with Old Norse skap “state, mood”; (verb) 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.
4 specter, illusion.
7 order, pattern.
8 order, situation.
14 mold, model.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR shape ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for shape
1. See form.
OTHER WORDS FROM shape
shap·a·ble,shape·a·ble,adjectiveoutshape,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.
A chrome-plated steel nib writes smoothly and holds its shape for years.
No-fuss fountain pens that make your note taking and letter writing more elegant|PopSci Commerce Team|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
We quickly realized that indexing problems come in all possible shapes and sizes.
How to earn your place in Google’s index in 2020|Bartosz Góralewicz|September 14, 2020|Search Engine Land
It is only connected to the collection of shapes and sounds that make up the word tree because we have all agreed that it is.
The true love story in Elif Batuman’s The Idiot is a love affair with language|Constance Grady|September 11, 2020|Vox
One of Howell’s own studies, she and her team reported online in August in mSphere, suggests that fungal species in particular shape the metabolites — and thus aroma and flavor — in wine from different growing regions in Australia.
How does a crop’s environment shape a food’s smell and taste?|Carolyn Beans|September 10, 2020|Science News
I think it helped us connect, not to compare struggles, they’re all different, but to connect with a lot of different people who are in that struggle for belonging in some way, shape or form.
Pete Buttigieg Says Dems Did Not Coordinate to Seal Biden’s Primary Win|Nick Fouriezos|September 9, 2020|Ozy
I mean, physically, mentally, you know, in every way, shape, and form.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Why the size and shape of a copper still is at the core of whisky distillation.
When It Comes to Great Whisky, The Size of Your Still Matters||December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nor is his face, or more accurately the shape of the hair that hides his face, easy to forget.
How to Run a Statewide Campaign on $38|Michael Ames|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By pure chance I had been posted to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe, SHAPE, on the outskirts of Paris.
I Saw Nuclear Armageddon Sitting on My Desk|Clive Irving|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the FDA allowed Spinal Solutions to continue selling its products while the company tried to shape up, court filings show.
Patients Screwed in Spine Surgery ‘Scam’|The Center for Investigative Reporting|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its shape is exactly the same as a lead probe figured by Par for the insertion of the apolinose.
Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times|John Stewart Milne
The shape of the glottis is also modified in numerous ways by the movement of the tongue and mandibles.
Our Bird Comrades|Leander S. (Leander Sylvester) Keyser
“Indeed, Mr. Anne, you two be very much of a shape,” said Rowley.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 20 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
I think she saw me—that my quicker change of place detached my shape sufficiently to make it discernible.
The Flight of the Shadow|George MacDonald
In this second specimen the whole internal surface of the posterior cavity likewise differs to a certain extent in shape.
The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, Vol. I.|Charles Darwin
British Dictionary definitions for shape (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 shapeto 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
shapableorshapeable, 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