Definitions for shape
ʃeɪpshape

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. shape, form, configuration, contour, conformationnoun

   any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

   "he could barely make out their shapes"

2. shape, formnoun

   the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance

   "geometry is the mathematical science of shape"

3. human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure, physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame, form, fleshnoun

   alternative names for the body of a human being

   "Leonardo studied the human body"; "he has a strong physique"; "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

4. shape, embodimentnoun

   a concrete representation of an otherwise nebulous concept

   "a circle was the embodiment of his concept of life"

5. form, shape, castnoun

   the visual appearance of something or someone

   "the delicate cast of his features"

6. condition, shapenoun

   the state of (good) health (especially in the phrases `in condition' or `in shape' or `out of condition' or `out of shape')

7. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, SHAPEnoun

   the supreme headquarters that advises NATO on military matters and oversees all aspects of the Allied Command Europe

8. form, shape, patternverb

   a perceptual structure

   "the composition presents problems for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them"

9. determine, shape, mold, influence, regulateverb

   shape or influence; give direction to

   "experience often determines ability"; "mold public opinion"

10. shape, form, work, mold, mould, forgeverb

    make something, usually for a specific function

    "She molded the rice balls carefully"; "Form cylinders from the dough"; "shape a figure"; "Work the metal into a sword"

11. shape, formverb

    give shape or form to

    "shape the dough"; "form the young child's character"

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Shapenoun

   to form or create; especially, to mold or make into a particular form; to give proper form or figure to

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

2. Shapenoun

   to adapt to a purpose; to regulate; to adjust; to direct; as, to shape the course of a vessel

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

3. Shapenoun

   to image; to conceive; to body forth

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

4. Shapenoun

   to design; to prepare; to plan; to arrange

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

5. Shapeverb

   to suit; to be adjusted or conformable

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

6. Shapenoun

   character or construction of a thing as determining its external appearance; outward aspect; make; figure; form; guise; as, the shape of a tree; the shape of the head; an elegant shape

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

7. Shapenoun

   that which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance; a being

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

8. Shapenoun

   a model; a pattern; a mold

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

9. Shapenoun

   form of embodiment, as in words; form, as of thought or conception; concrete embodiment or example, as of some quality

   Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

10. Shapenoun

    dress for disguise; guise

    Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

11. Shapenoun

    a rolled or hammered piece, as a bar, beam, angle iron, etc., having a cross section different from merchant bar

    Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

12. Shapenoun

    a piece which has been roughly forged nearly to the form it will receive when completely forged or fitted

    Etymology: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

Freebase(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Shape

   The shape of an object located in some space is a geometrical description of the part of that space occupied by the object, as determined by its external boundary – abstracting from location and orientation in space, size, and other properties such as colour, content, and material composition. Mathematician and statistician David George Kendall writes: In this paper ‘shape’ is used in the vulgar sense, and means what one would normally expect it to mean. [...] We here define ‘shape’ informally as ‘all the geometrical information that remains when location, scale and rotational effects are filtered out from an object.’ Simple shapes can be described by basic geometry objects such as a set of two or more points, a line, a curve, a plane, a plane figure, or a solid figure. Most shapes occurring in the physical world are complex. Some, such as plant structures and coastlines, may be so arbitrary as to defy traditional mathematical description – in which case they may be analyzed by differential geometry, or as fractals.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Shape

   shāp, v.t. to form: to fashion: to adapt to a purpose: to regulate: to direct: to conceive.—v.i. (Shak.) to take shape, to become fit:—pa.p. shāped, (B.) shāp′en.—n. form or figure: external appearance: that which has form or figure: an appearance: particular nature: expression, as in words: a pattern: (cook.) a dish of rice, jelly, or the like cast in a mould and turned out when it has grown firm.—adjs. Shā′pable, Shape′able; Shaped, having a varied ornamental form; Shape′less, having no shape or regular form: (Shak.) effecting nothing.—ns. Shape′lessness; Shape′liness.—adj. Shape′ly, having shape or regular form: symmetrical.—ns. Shā′per, a metal planing machine, the tool with reciprocating motion; Shā′ping, representation, imagination.—Take shape, to assume a definite form or plan. [A.S. sceapan, scapan, to form, make; Ice. skapa, Ger. schaffen.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. shape

   The lines and form of a vessel.--To shape a course. To assign the route to be steered in order to prosecute a voyage.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. shape

   A perceived visual form.

   She loved her body shape and it was part of her natural confidence.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 5, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. shape

   Song lyrics by shape -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by shape on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Body
   • Change
   • Concrete Representation
   • Good Health
   • High Command

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'shape' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1656

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'shape' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2243

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'shape' in Nouns Frequency: #583

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'shape' in Verbs Frequency: #693

Anagrams for shape »

1. Ephas

2. Heaps

How to pronounce shape?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say shape in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of shape in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of shape in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of shape in a Sentence

1. Marshall McLuhan:

   We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.

2. Dustin Johnson:

   The golf course is great, it's in really good shape. I like the course. I think it's fairly tough. I think it will be a good week.

3. Ruth Pearl:

   Today, we are in worse shape than we were 12 years ago, let’s hope that can be changed.

4. Marian Vajda:

   As (long) as Novak is healthy — and he’s healthy right now; he’s in great shape — I think he has ability to win the Grand Slam for this year. I’m pretty sure.

5. Philippe Gijsels:

   But it's good for the profitability of European companies because the United States is an important market for Europe and a weaker euro against the dollar would further help exports. The Fed statement prompts people to believe that the U.S. economy is in a good shape.

Images & Illustrations of shape

Popularity rank by frequency of use