Shape

shape
    n 1: any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline);
         "he could barely make out their shapes" [syn: {shape},
         {form}, {configuration}, {contour}, {conformation}]
    2: the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its
       substance; "geometry is the mathematical science of shape"
       [syn: {shape}, {form}]
    3: 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" [syn: {human body},
       {physical body}, {material body}, {soma}, {build}, {figure},
       {physique}, {anatomy}, {shape}, {bod}, {chassis}, {frame},
       {form}, {flesh}]
    4: a concrete representation of an otherwise nebulous concept;
       "a circle was the embodiment of his concept of life" [syn:
       {shape}, {embodiment}]
    5: the visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate
       cast of his features" [syn: {form}, {shape}, {cast}]
    6: the state of (good) health (especially in the phrases `in
       condition' or `in shape' or `out of condition' or `out of
       shape') [syn: {condition}, {shape}]
    7: the supreme headquarters that advises NATO on military
       matters and oversees all aspects of the Allied Command Europe
       [syn: {Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe}, {SHAPE}]
    8: 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" [syn: {form},
       {shape}, {pattern}]
    v 1: shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often
         determines ability"; "mold public opinion" [syn:
         {determine}, {shape}, {mold}, {influence}, {regulate}]
    2: 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" [syn:
       {shape}, {form}, {work}, {mold}, {mould}, {forge}]
    3: give shape or form to; "shape the dough"; "form the young
       child's character" [syn: {shape}, {form}]
    

Shape \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 {Shape}, n.]
   1. To form or create; especially, to mold or make into a
      particular form; to give proper form or figure to.
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            I was shapen in iniquity.             --Ps. li. 5.
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            Grace shaped her limbs, and beauty decked her face.
                                                  --Prior.
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   2. To adapt to a purpose; to regulate; to adjust; to direct;
      as, to shape the course of a vessel.
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            To the stream, when neither friends, nor force,
            Nor speed nor art avail, he shapes his course.
                                                  --Denham.
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            Charmed by their eyes, their manners I acquire,
            And shape my foolishness to their desire. --Prior.
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   3. To imagine; to conceive; to call forth (ideas). [archaic]
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            Oft my jealousy
            Shapes faults that are not.           --Shak.
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   4. To design; to prepare; to plan; to arrange.
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            When shapen was all this conspiracy,
            From point to point.                  --Chaucer.
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   {Shaping machine}. (Mach.) Same as {Shaper}.

   {To shape one's self}, to prepare; to make ready. [Obs.]
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            I will early shape me therefor.       --Chaucer.
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Shape \Shape\, v. i.
   To suit; to be adjusted or conformable. [R.] --Shak.
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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. skapa, skepja, Dan. skabe, skaffe,
   Sw. skapa, skaffa, Goth. gaskapjan, and perhaps to E. shave,
   v. Cf. {-ship}.]
   1. 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.
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            He beat me grievously, in the shape of a woman.
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. That which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance; a
      being.
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            Before the gates three sat,
            On either side, a formidable shape.   --Milton.
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   3. A model; a pattern; a mold.
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   4. Form of embodiment, as in words; form, as of thought or
      conception; concrete embodiment or example, as of some
      quality. --Milton.
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   5. Dress for disguise; guise. [Obs.]
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            Look better on this virgin, and consider
            This Persian shape laid by, and she appearing
            In a Greekish dress.                  --Messinger.
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   6. (Iron Manuf.)
      (a) A rolled or hammered piece, as a bar, beam, angle
          iron, etc., having a cross section different from
          merchant bar.
      (b) A piece which has been roughly forged nearly to the
          form it will receive when completely forged or fitted.
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   {To take shape}, to assume a definite form.
    

409 Moby Thesaurus words for "shape":
      Masan, Platonic form, Platonic idea, accommodate, accommodate with,
      accord, adapt, adapt to, adjust, adjust to, adjustment,
      aesthetic form, affect, agree with, anatomy, angle, apparition,
      appearance, archetype, architectonics, architecture, aroma,
      arrange, arrangement, art form, aspect, assemble, assimilate to,
      astral, astral spirit, attribute, bad condition, badge, bake,
      banshee, be guided by, bend, block out, blood, body, body-build,
      brand, breed, build, building, cachet, calculate, carve, case,
      cast, change, character, characteristic, chime in with, chisel,
      clan, coin, color, complexion, comply, comply with, compose,
      composition, compound, conceit, conceive, conceptualize, concert,
      concoct, condition, configuration, conform, conformation,
      constitution, construct, construction, contours, contrive, control,
      correct, correspond, create, creation, cut, cut out, decree,
      define, denomination, departed spirit, description, design,
      designation, determine, develop, devise, differentia, differential,
      discipline, disembodied spirit, disguise, distinctive feature,
      dream up, duppy, dybbuk, earmark, effect, efform, eidolon,
      elaborate, embody in words, erect, estate, evolve,
      experience imaginatively, express, extrude, fabric, fabricate,
      fabrication, facet, fall in with, false image, fancy, fantasize,
      fantasy, fashion, fashioning, feather, feature, fettle,
      fictionalize, figuration, figure, fire, fit, fitness, fix, flavor,
      follow, forecast, forge, forging, form, formalize, format,
      formation, formulate, found, frame, fudge together, gear to, genre,
      genus, gestalt, get up, getup, ghost, glaze, go by, good condition,
      govern, grain, grateful dead, guide, guise, gust, hack, hallmark,
      hant, harmonize, hatch, haunt, hew, ideate, idiocrasy,
      idiosyncrasy, idolum, ilk, image, imagine, imago, immateriality,
      impress, impression, improve, incorporeal, incorporeal being,
      incorporeity, index, indite, individualism, influence, inner form,
      intend, invent, keynote, kidney, kilter, kin, kind, knead,
      knock out, label, larva, lay out, lay plans, layout, lemures,
      lick into shape, light, likeness, line, lineaments, lines, look,
      lot, make, make a projection, make arrangements, make conform,
      make up, makeup, making, manes, manner, mannerism, manufacture,
      mark, marking, materialization, materialize, matrix, mature, meet,
      methodize, mint, mirage, modality, mode, model, modify, mold,
      molding, mould, nature, number, observe, odor, oni, order,
      organic structure, organism, organization, organize, originate,
      particularity, patch together, pattern, patterning, peculiarity,
      person, persuasion, phantasm, phantasma, phantasmagoria, phantom,
      phase, phasis, phasm, phenomenon, phylum, physique, piece together,
      plan, plan ahead, poltergeist, pot, prearrange, prefabricate,
      prepare, presence, proceed, produce, production, profile, program,
      progress, project, property, prototype, put, put together, put up,
      quality, quirk, race, raise, rationalize, rear, reconcile, rectify,
      reference, regard, regulate, remodel, repair, respect, revenant,
      rough out, roughcast, rub off corners, run up, savor, schedule,
      schematize, sculpt, sculpture, seal, seeming, semblance, set,
      set up, settle, setup, shade, shadow, shape up, shaping,
      show improvement, shrouded spirit, side, significant form,
      silhouette, simulacrum, singularity, slant, smack, sort, specialty,
      species, specter, spectral ghost, spirit, spook, sprite, stamp,
      state, status, straighten, strain, stripe, structure, structuring,
      style, suit, suppose, systematize, tailor, taint, take form,
      take shape, tally with, tang, taste, tectonics, tenor, texture,
      the like of, the likes of, theophany, thermoform, think up, throw,
      tissue, token, tone, total effect, trait, tribe, trick, trim, turn,
      turn a pot, twist, type, unsubstantiality, variety, view,
      viewpoint, vision, waking dream, walking dead man, wandering soul,
      warp and woof, way, weave, web, whack, whomp up, wildest dream,
      wise, word, work, work out, work up, wraith, write, yield,
      zombie