shape
- shape
-
I. verb
(shaped; shaping)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sceapen, gescapen, past participle of scieppan; akin to Old High German skepfen to shape
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. form, create; especially to give a particular form or shape to
2. obsolete ordain, decree
3. to adapt in shape so as to fit neatly and closely <
a dress shaped to her figure
>
4.
a. devise, plan <shape a policy
>
b. to embody in definite form <shaping a folktale into an epic
>
5.
a. to make fit for (as a particular use or purpose) ; adapt <shape the questions to fit the answers
>
b. to determine or direct the course or character of <events that shaped history
>
c. to modify (behavior) by rewarding changes that tend toward a desired response
intransitive verb
1. to come to pass ; happen <it's shaping up that I am known now for my husbands — Leslie Marmon Silko
>
2. to take on or approach a mature or definite form — often used with up <the summer is shaping up to be one of the hottest on record
>
• shaper noun
II. noun
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. the visible makeup characteristic of a particular item or kind of item <a cake in the shape of a Christmas tree
>
b.
(1) spatial form or contour <the clouds kept changing shape
>
(2) a standard or universally recognized spatial form <a stain in the shape of a perfect circle
>
2. the appearance of the body as distinguished from that of the face ; figure
3.
a. phantom, apparition <eerie shapes floating in the mist
>
b. assumed appearance ; guise <a trick-or-treater in the shape of a pumpkin
>
4. form of embodiment <our plans are taking shape
>
5. a mode of existence or form of being having identifying features
6. a molded dessert; especially blancmange
7. the condition in which someone or something exists at a particular time <the car was in fine shape
>
• shaped adjective
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
shape — ► NOUN 1) the external form or appearance of someone or something as produced by their outline. 2) a piece of material, paper, etc., made or cut in a particular form. 3) a particular condition or state: the house was in poor shape. 4) a specific… … English terms dictionary
shape — [shāp] n. [ME schap < OE (ge)sceap, form, created thing, akin to scieppan, to create, form < IE * skeb , var. of base * (s)kep , to cut with a sharp tool > SHAFT, SHAVE] 1. that quality of a thing which depends on the relative position… … English World dictionary
Shape — Shape, n. [OE. shap, schap, AS. sceap in gesceap creation, creature, fr. the root of scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, to shape, to do, to effect; akin to OS. giskeppian, OFries. skeppa, D. scheppen, G. schaffen, OHG. scaffan, scepfen, skeffen, Icer.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shape — UK US /ʃeɪp/ noun [U or S] ► the way that something is organized, or its general character or nature: the shape of sth »Technological developments have changed the shape of industry. »We need to change the whole shape of our ad campaign. ► the… … Financial and business terms
Shape-0 — Datos generales Origen Tampico , Madero, Tamaulipas Información artística … Wikipedia Español
Shape — (sh[=a]p), v. t. [imp. {Shaped} (sh[=a]pt); p. p. {Shaped} or {Shapen} (sh[=a]p n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shaping}.] [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shape up — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. * /If the new boy doesn t begin to shape up soon, he ll have to leave school./ * / How is the building of the new gym coming along? Fine. It s shaping up very well … Dictionary of American idioms
shape up — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. * /If the new boy doesn t begin to shape up soon, he ll have to leave school./ * / How is the building of the new gym coming along? Fine. It s shaping up very well … Dictionary of American idioms
Shape — ist die Kurzbezeichnung des NATO Hauptquartieres, siehe Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ein grafisches Objekt in der Computergrafik, ähnlich einem Sprite, siehe Shape (Computergrafik) ein Dateiformat des Unternehmens ESRI, siehe… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Shape — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Shape es el cuarto y último single de Angels with Dirty Faces, segundo álbum de estudio de Sugababes. Es una versión de Shape of my heart, de Sting. Este single debutó en el número 11 de la lista británica de singles … Wikipedia Español
SHAPE — [ʃeɪp, englisch], Abkürzung für Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe [sʊ priːm hedkwɔːtəz ælaɪd paʊəz jʊərəp; englisch »Oberstes Hauptquartier der Alliierten Streitkräfte in Europa«], höchste militärische Kommandobehörde der… … Universal-Lexikon