shape
/ˈʃeɪ̯p/ verb B1- To give something a shape and definition. · Shape the dough into a pretzel. For my art project, I plan to shape my clay lump into a bowl.
- To form or manipulate something into a certain shape.
- To give influence to.
- To suit; to be adjusted or conformable.
Plural shape · He/she/it shapes · Past shaped · Past participle shaped · -ing form shaping
Verb forms
- Base form
- shape
- He/she/it
- shapes
- Past
- shaped
- Past participle
- shaped
- -ing form
- shaping
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
When all were safely down they picked up the Scarecrow, whose body was quite flattened out, and patted his straw into shape again.
Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints.
It was shaped like a chair and sparkled with gems, as did everything else.
“I am never hungry,” he said, “and it is a lucky thing I am not, for my mouth is only painted, and if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat, the straw I am stuffed with would come out, and that would spoil the shape of my head.”
Other matches
Learn shape in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.