Shape Definition

shāp
shaped, shapes, shaping
noun
shapes
That quality of a thing which depends on the relative position of all points composing its outline or external surface; physical or spatial form.
Webster's New World
The form characteristic of a particular person or thing, or class of things.
Webster's New World
Spatial form, contour, or appearance.
The sandy coastline is always changing shape.
American Heritage
The body or outward appearance of a person or an animal.
Saw two shapes walking toward her in the night.
American Heritage
The contour of the body, exclusive of the face; figure.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
shaped, shapes, shaping
To give definite shape to; make, as by cutting or molding material.
Webster's New World
To create or fashion, as:
American Heritage
To become suited; conform.
Webster's New World
To cause to conform to a particular form.
A pool that is shaped like an hourglass; a bone that is shaped to bear weight.
American Heritage
To happen.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
abbreviation
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe.
Webster's New World
other
See also shape.
Wiktionary
idiom
shape up
  • to develop to a definite form, condition, etc.
  • to develop satisfactorily or favorably
Webster's New World
take shape
  • to begin to have definite form, condition, etc.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Shape

Noun

Singular:
shape
Plural:
shapes

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Shape

Origin of Shape

  • From Middle English shap, schape, from Old English Ä¡esceap (“shape, form, created being, creature, creation, dispensation, fate, condition, sex, gender, genitalia"), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *skapÄ… (“shape, nature, condition"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kep- (“to split, cut"). Cognate with Middle Dutch schap (“form"), Middle High German geschaf (“creature"), Icelandic skap (“state, condition, temper, mood").

    From Wiktionary

  • The verb is from Middle English shapen, schapen, from Old English scieppan (“to shape, form, make, create, assign, arrange, destine, order, adjudge"), from Proto-Germanic *skapjanÄ… (“to create"), from the noun. Cognate with Dutch scheppen, German schaffen, Swedish skapa (“to create, make").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English gesceap a creation

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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