shape

      See also in shape

      English

      Pronunciation

      Etymology 1

      From Middle English shap, schape, from Old English ġesceap (“shape, form, created being, creature, creation, dispensation, fate, condition, sex, gender, genitalia”), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *skapą (“shape, nature, condition”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kÀp- (“to split, cut”). Cognate with Middle Dutch schap (“form”), Middle High German geschaf (“creature”), Icelandic skap (“state, condition, temper, mood”).

      Noun

      shape (plural shapes)

      1. The status or condition of something
        The used bookshop wouldn't offer much due to the poor shape of the book.
      2. Condition of personal health, especially muscular health.
        The vet checked to see what kind of shape the animal was in.
        We exercise to keep in good physical shape.
      3. The appearance of something, especially its outline.
        He cut a square shape out of the cake.
      4. A figure with unspecified appearance; especially a geometric figure.
        What shape shall we use for the cookies? Stars, circles, or diamonds?
      5. Form; formation.
        • 2006, Berdj Kenadjian, Martin Zakarian, From Darkness to Light:
          What if God's plans and actions do mold the shape of human events?
      Hyponyms
      Derived terms
      Translations
      status or condition
      condition of personal health, especially muscular health
      appearance or outline
      figure
      The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
      Translations to be checked
      See also

      Etymology 2

      From Middle English shapen, schapen, from Old English scieppan (“to shape, form, make, create, assign, arrange, destine, order, adjudge”), from Proto-Germanic *skapjaną (“to create”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kÀp- (“to split, divide”). Cognate with Dutch scheppen, German schaffen, Swedish skapa (“to create, make”).

      Verb

      shape (third-person singular simple present shapes, present participle shaping, simple past shaped or (obsolete) shope, past participle shaped or shapen)

      1. (transitive) To give something a shape and definition.
        • Shape the dough into a pretzel.
        • For my art project, I plan to shape my clay lump into a bowl.
        • 1932, The American Scholar, page 227, United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa
          The professor never pretended to the academic prerogative of forcing his students into his own channels of reasoning; he entered into and helped shape the discussion but above all he made his men learn to think for themselves and rely upon their own intellectual judgments.
      2. To manouevre something into a certain shape.
        • 2010 December 29, Mark Vesty, “Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal”, BBC:
          Bendtner's goal-bound shot was well saved by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi but fell to Arsahvin on the edge of the area and the Russian swivelled, shaped his body and angled a sumptuous volley into the corner.
      3. (of a country, person, etc) To give influence to.
      4. To suit; to be adjusted or conformable.
        (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
      Synonyms
      Derived terms
      Translations
      to give something a shape

      Anagrams

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      Last modified on 19 June 2013, at 01:23