shape
- shape
- 1
/SeIp/ noun
1 OUTER FORM
a) (C, U) the outer form of something, that you see or feel: What shape is the table - round or oval? | You can recognize a tree by the shape of its leaves. | round/square etc in shape: The eyeball is almost spherical in shape. | lose its shape (=become the wrong shape): His battered old hat had completely lost its shape. | out of shape (=having become the wrong shape): Meryl's sweater had stretched completely out of shape. | in the shape of (=having the same shape as something): She was wearing a pin in the shape of a bird.
b) (C) a particular shape, or thing that is that shape: OK Katie, which of these shapes are triangles?
2 THING NOT SEEN CLEARLY (C) a thing or person that you cannot see clearly enough to recognize: A large shape loomed up out of the mist.
3 CHARACTER OF STH (singular) a particular combination of qualities and features that something has: the shape of: the shape of British politics today | Dr Singh was responsible for the final shape of the report. | in any shape or form (=of any kind): We will not tolerate racism in any shape or form. | the shape of things to come (=an example of the way things will develop in the future)
4 in the shape of used to explain what something consists of: sth comes in the shape of: Help came in the shape of a $10,000 loan from his parents.
5 in good/bad/poor shape
a) in a good or bad condition: Considering how old the car is, it's not in bad shape.
b) in a good or bad state of health or physical
fitness (1): After three months without any exercise or training the champion's in poor shape.
6 in shape/out of shape in a good or bad state of health or physical
fitness (1): get (yourself) into shape: I've got to get into shape before summer.
7 knock/lick sb into shape informal to make someone better so that they reach the necessary standard: Some of them lack experience, but we'll soon knock them into shape.
8 take shape to develop into a clear and definite form: An idea was beginning to take shape in his mind.
9 in/of all shapes and sizes of many different types: come in all shapes and sizes: Domestic pets come in all shapes and sizes.
2
verb
1 (T) to influence something such as a belief, opinion etc and make it develop in a particular way: People's political beliefs are often shaped by what they read in the newspapers.
2 to make something have a particular shape, especially by pressing it: shape sth into sth: Shape the dough into small balls.
shape up phrasal verb (I) informal
1 to make progress and improve in the way you want: The new recruits are shaping up nicely.
2 to improve your behaviour or work: If you don't shape up, I'll have to contact your parents.
3 shape up or ship out AmE spoken used to tell someone that if they do not improve they will be made to leave a place or their job
Longman dictionary of contemporary English.
2004.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
shape — ► NOUN 1) the external form or appearance of someone or something as produced by their outline. 2) a piece of material, paper, etc., made or cut in a particular form. 3) a particular condition or state: the house was in poor shape. 4) a specific… … English terms dictionary
shape — [shāp] n. [ME schap < OE (ge)sceap, form, created thing, akin to scieppan, to create, form < IE * skeb , var. of base * (s)kep , to cut with a sharp tool > SHAFT, SHAVE] 1. that quality of a thing which depends on the relative position… … English World dictionary
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.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shape — UK US /ʃeɪp/ noun [U or S] ► the way that something is organized, or its general character or nature: the shape of sth »Technological developments have changed the shape of industry. »We need to change the whole shape of our ad campaign. ► the… … Financial and business terms
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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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shape up — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. * /If the new boy doesn t begin to shape up soon, he ll have to leave school./ * / How is the building of the new gym coming along? Fine. It s shaping up very well … Dictionary of American idioms
shape up — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. * /If the new boy doesn t begin to shape up soon, he ll have to leave school./ * / How is the building of the new gym coming along? Fine. It s shaping up very well … Dictionary of American idioms
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Shape — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Shape es el cuarto y último single de Angels with Dirty Faces, segundo álbum de estudio de Sugababes. Es una versión de Shape of my heart, de Sting. Este single debutó en el número 11 de la lista británica de singles … Wikipedia Español
SHAPE — [ʃeɪp, englisch], Abkürzung für Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe [sʊ priːm hedkwɔːtəz ælaɪd paʊəz jʊərəp; englisch »Oberstes Hauptquartier der Alliierten Streitkräfte in Europa«], höchste militärische Kommandobehörde der… … Universal-Lexikon
