shaping

shape

(shāp)

a. The characteristic surface configuration of a thing; an outline or contour: a lake in the shape of an hourglass. See Synonyms at form.

b. Spatial form, contour, or appearance: The sandy coastline is always changing shape.

a. The body or outward appearance of a person or an animal: saw two shapes walking toward her in the night.

b. The contour of a person's body; the figure: a swimmer with a slender shape.

a. A definite or distinctive form: Our discussion acquired the shape of an argument.

b. Form, condition, or embodiment: How is your research project taking shape?

c. A desirable form: a fabric that holds its shape.

a. Assumed or false appearance; guise: a god in the shape of a swan.

b. A ghostly form; a phantom: Shapes appeared in his bedroom at night.

5. Something, such as a mold or pattern, used to give or determine form.

a. The condition of something with regard to effectiveness, use, or appearance: What kind of shape is your car in?

b. Bodily condition, as in regard to muscle tone or endurance: She's in great shape after working out for six months.

tr.v. shaped, shap·ing, shapes

1. To create or fashion, as:

a. To give a particular form to (a material): shape the dough into baguettes.

b. To create or configure, as from a material: a sculpture that was shaped out of ice.

2. To cause to conform to a particular form: a pool that is shaped like an hourglass; a bone that is shaped to bear weight.

a. To plan or devise: shape a new educational program.

b. To embody in a definite form: shaped a folk tale into an opera.

a. To influence in a formative way: experiences that shaped his identity.

b. To direct the course of: "He shaped history as well as being shaped by it" (Robert J. Samuelson).

Phrasal Verbs:

shape into

To develop into a particular form or condition: This is shaping into one of the biggest scandals of the century.

shape up

1. To turn out; develop: This ski season is shaping up to be the best in years.

2. To improve one's performance or behavior so as to meet a standard: Either shape up or ship out.

[Middle English, from Old English gesceap, a creation.]

shap′a·ble, shape′a·ble adj.

shaped adj.

shap′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

shaping - any process serving to define the shape of something

physical process, process - a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states; "events now in process"; "the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls"

shaping - the act of fabricating something in a particular shape

manufacturing, manufacture, fabrication - the act of making something (a product) from raw materials; "the synthesis and fabrication of single crystals"; "an improvement in the manufacture of explosives"; "manufacturing is vital to Great Britain"

filing - the act of using a file (as in shaping or smoothing an object)

forging - shaping metal by heating and hammering

metalworking, metalwork - the activity of making things out of metal in a skillful manner

granulation - the act of forming something into granules or grains; "the granulation of medicines"

grooving, rifling - the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of the barrel of a firearm

turning - the activity of shaping something on a lathe

Adj.

shaping - forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; "a formative influence"; "a formative experience"

constructive - constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development; "constructive criticism"; "a constructive attitude"; "a constructive philosophy"; "constructive permission"

Translations

shaping

n (psych) moldeamiento