Shape Definition

shāp

shaped, shapes, shaping

noun

shapes

That quality of a thing which depends on the relative position of all points composing its outline or external surface; physical or spatial form.

Webster's New World

The form characteristic of a particular person or thing, or class of things.

Webster's New World

Spatial form, contour, or appearance.

The sandy coastline is always changing shape.

American Heritage

The body or outward appearance of a person or an animal.

Saw two shapes walking toward her in the night.

American Heritage

The contour of the body, exclusive of the face; figure.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

shaped, shapes, shaping

To give definite shape to; make, as by cutting or molding material.

Webster's New World

To create or fashion, as:

American Heritage

To become suited; conform.

Webster's New World

To cause to conform to a particular form.

A pool that is shaped like an hourglass; a bone that is shaped to bear weight.

American Heritage

To happen.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

abbreviation

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe.

Webster's New World

other

Other Word Forms of Shape

Singular:

shape

Plural:

From Middle English shap, schape, from Old English Ä¡esceap (“shape, form, created being, creature, creation, dispensation, fate, condition, sex, gender, genitalia"), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *skapÄ… (“shape, nature, condition"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kep- (“to split, cut"). Cognate with Middle Dutch schap (“form"), Middle High German geschaf (“creature"), Icelandic skap (“state, condition, temper, mood").

From Wiktionary
The verb is from Middle English shapen, schapen, from Old English scieppan (“to shape, form, make, create, assign, arrange, destine, order, adjudge"), from Proto-Germanic *skapjanÄ… (“to create"), from the noun. Cognate with Dutch scheppen, German schaffen, Swedish skapa (“to create, make").

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English gesceap a creation

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition