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shape

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A graphical representation of an object's form or its external boundary, outline, or external surface.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

shayp
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈʃeɪp

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A graphical representation of an object's form or its external boundary, outline, or external surface.

  2. geometry

    A geometric figure defined by its surfaces, lines, and angles, existing in 2D or 3D

  3. The status or condition of something

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

  5. Condition of personal health, especially muscular health.

verb

  1. To suit; to be adjusted or conformable.

  2. Give shape or form to

  3. Shape or influence; give direction to

  4. transitive

    To give something a shape and definition.

  5. To form or manipulate something into a certain shape.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Typical Use
Everyday English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

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More ways to use shape

  • “Geometry is the mathematical science of shape.”noun
  • “He could barely make out their shapes.”noun

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Hack

general shape

Rolled

bad shape

Other combinations

take shapegood shapetaking shape

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • shapedadjectiveInflected form

    Having the shape of.

  • shapingnounInflected form

    Any process serving to define the shape of something.

  • shapernounInflected form

    A person who makes things.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • shape upverbCompound term

    Develop in a positive way.

  • shaping machinenounCompound term

    A machine tool for shaping metal or wood.

  • shaping toolnounCompound term

    A tool for shaping metal.

  • shape constancynounCompound term

    The tendency to perceive the shape of a rigid object as constant despite differences in the viewing angle (and consequent differences in the shape of the pattern projected on the retina of…

  • change shapeverbCompound term

    Assume a different shape or form.

  • concave shapenounCompound term

    A shape that curves or bends inward.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

noun

Sense: graphical representation of an object's form

contourform

verb

Sense: to suit

moldfigureformdetermine

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.