Definition of 'shape'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense shapes, present participle shaping, past tense, past participle shaped
1. countable noun [oft N of n, also in N]
The shape of an object, a person, or an area is the appearance of their outside edges or surfaces,
for example, whether they are round, square, curved, or fat.
2. countable noun
3. countable noun
4. singular noun
5. transitive verb
Someone or something that shapes a situation or an activity has a very great influence on the way it develops.
6. transitive verb
If you shape an object, you give it a particular shape, using your hands or a tool.
7. See also shaped
8.
9.
See in shape
10.
11.
See out of shape
12.
See out of shape
13.
See take shape
Phrasal verbs:
See shape up
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
shape in American English
noun
1.
2.
the form characteristic of a particular person or thing, or class of things
7.
any of the forms, structures, etc. in which a thing may exist
dangers of every shape
9. US
b.
good physical condition
exercises that keep one in shape
verb transitiveWord forms: shaped or ˈshaping
10.
to give definite shape to; make, as by cutting or molding material
13.
to direct or conduct (one's life, the course of events, etc.)
verb intransitive
17. Informal
to take shape or form
often with into or up SIMILAR WORDS: form, make
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
shaper (ˈshaper)
noun
Word Frequency
shape in American English
(ʃeip) (verb shaped, shaping)
noun
1.
the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of specific form or figure
2.
this quality as found in some individual object or body form
This lake has a peculiar shape
4.
an imaginary form; phantom
5.
an assumed appearance; guise
an angel in the shape of a woman
6.
a particular or definite organized form or expression
He could give no shape to his ideas
7.
proper form; orderly arrangement
8.
condition or state of repair
The old house was in bad shape
He was sick last year, but is in good shape now
9.
What will the shape of the future be?
10.
the figure, physique, or body of a person, esp. of a woman
A dancer can keep her shape longer than those of us who have sedentary jobs
11.
something used to give form, as a mold or a pattern
12. Also called: section Building & Engineering
13. Nautical
14. See take shape
transitive verb
15.
to give definite form, shape, organization, or character to; fashion or form
17.
to adjust; adapt
He shaped everything to suit his taste
18.
to direct (one's course, future, etc.)
20. 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
21. obsolete
to appoint; decree
intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. silhouette, appearance. See form. 4. specter, illusion. 7. order, pattern. 8. order, situation. 15. mold, model.22.
to come to a desired conclusion or take place in a specified way
If discussions shape properly, the companies will merge
23. See shape up
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
shapable or shapeable adjective
Word origin
[bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE gesceapu (pl.); r. dial. shap, ME; OE gesceap (sing.); c. ON skap state, mood; (v.) ME; OE sceapen (ptp.); r. ME sheppe, shippe, OE sceppan, scyppan; c. G schaffen, ON skepja, Goth -skapjan to make]Word Frequency
SHAPE in American English
(ʃeip)
noun
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe
Also: ShapeMost material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
shape in British English
noun
2.
the figure or outline of the body of a person
3.
a phantom
8. See out of shape
9. See take shape
verb
10. (when intr, often foll by into or up)
to receive or cause to receive shape or form
13. an obsolete word for appoint
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
shapable (ˈshapable) or shapeable (ˈshapeable) adjective
shaper (ˈshaper)
noun
Word origin
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
Word Frequency
SHAPE in British English
noun acronym for
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Examples of 'shape' in a sentence
shape
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In other languages
shape
British English: shape
/ʃeɪp/ NOUN
The shape of an object, a person, or an area is the form or pattern of its outline.
...a keyring in the shape of a fish.
- American English: shape /ˈʃeɪp/
- Arabic: شَكْل
- Brazilian Portuguese: formato
- Chinese: 形状
- Croatian: oblik
- Czech: tvar
- Danish: form
- Dutch: vorm voorwerp
- European Spanish: forma contorno
- Finnish: muoto
- French: forme
- German: Form
- Greek: σχήμα
- Italian: forma
- Japanese: 形
- Korean: 모양
- Norwegian: fasong
- Polish: kształt
- European Portuguese: forma
- Romanian: formă
- Russian: форма
- Spanish: forma
- Swedish: form skepnad
- Thai: รูปร่าง
- Turkish: şekil
- Ukrainian: форма
- Vietnamese: hình thù
British English: shape
VERB /ʃeɪp/
Someone or something that shapes a situation or an activity has a very great influence on the way it develops.
Leaders are meeting to discuss their role in shaping the future of the country.
- American English: shape /ˈʃeɪp/
- Brazilian Portuguese: moldar
- Chinese: 塑造
- European Spanish: formar
- French: déterminer
- German: gestalten
- Italian: determinare
- Japanese: 方向づける
- Korean: 결정짓다
- European Portuguese: moldar
- Spanish: formar
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Definition of shape from the Collins English Dictionary
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