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| shape [ shayp ] |
noun (plural shapes) |
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| Definition: |
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1. outline: the outline of something's form
  His face has a square shape.
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2. something not clearly seen: something that has bulk but is not clearly seen in outline
She could see a shape through the fog.
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3. mathematics geometric form: a geometric form, e.g. a square, triangle, cone, or cube
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4. general character of something: the broad character that something has
the overall shape of the proposals
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5. original form: the original or optimal form of something
The pleats lost their shape in the wash.
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6. health: the condition of somebody's health or fitness
She exercises regularly and is in pretty good shape.
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7. something's condition: the condition that something is in
The lawn is in great shape.
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8. mold for something: a mold or pattern for making something or giving something its form
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9. ghost: a ghostly form or phantom
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transitive verb (past and past participle shaped, present participle shap·ing, 3rd person present singular shapes) |
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| Definition: |
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1. influence something greatly: to have a profound or crucial influence over something
His beliefs were shaped by his upbringing.
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2. plan for nature of something: to plan or decide on what the character of something should be
They are meeting to shape the nation's future.
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3. give shape to something: to mold something into a different shape
She shapes the clay into little animals.
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4. psychology train with reward and punishment: to change somebody's behavior gradually using reward as the person comes closer to the desired behavior, and punishment for moving away from it
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| [ Old English gesceap "creation" < Germanic, "cut out"] |
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| shaped adjective |
| shap·er noun |
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knock or lick or whip somebody or something into shape to bring somebody or something to a desired state quickly, roughly, or haphazardly (informal)
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take shape to take a definite form
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