- Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
SHAPE /ʃeɪp/ n acronym for
shape /ʃeɪp/USA pronunciation
n., v., shaped, shap•ing.
n.
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n.
- the appearance of an object;
the way a person or thing looks on the outside:[countable]Italy has the shape of a boot when you see it on a map. - something seen in outline:[countable]A vague shape appeared through the mist.
- condition;
state of repair:[uncountable]The old house was in bad shape. She wants to exercise to get into shape (= to get into good physical condition). - orderly arrangement:[uncountable]He could give no shape to his ideas.
- the figure or body of a person, esp. of a woman:[countable]The actress still has a great shape.
v.
- to give definite form to:[~ + object]to shape the ground beef into meatballs.
- to put in words:[~ + object]He shaped his criticism of her very carefully so as not to offend.
- to direct (one's course, etc.):[~ + object]The events of his youth shaped his whole way of thinking.
- shape up, [no object]
- to change, esp. favorably:Things are finally beginning to shape up in the economy.
- to improve one's behavior, performance, or physical condition:If you don't shape up, you'll be fired.
- Idioms take shape, to take on a more complete form;
become defined:Her ideas began to take shape and she wrote them down.
shape
(shāp),USA pronunciation n., v., shaped, shap•ing.
n.
v.t.
v.i.
shap′a•ble, shape′a•ble, adj.
SHAPE (shāp),USA pronunciation n.
n.
- the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of specific form or figure.
- this quality as found in some individual object or body form:This lake has a peculiar shape.
- something seen in outline, as in silhouette:A vague shape appeared through the mist.
- an imaginary form;
phantom. - an assumed appearance;
guise:an angel in the shape of a woman. - a particular or definite organized form or expression:He could give no shape to his ideas.
- proper form;
orderly arrangement. - condition or state of repair:The old house was in bad shape. He was sick last year, but is in good shape now.
- the collective conditions forming a way of life or mode of existence:What will the shape of the future be?
- the figure, physique, or body of a person, esp. of a woman:A dancer can keep her shape longer than those of us who have sedentary jobs.
- something used to give form, as a mold or a pattern.
- Metallurgy, Building, BuildingAlso called section. Building Trades, Metalworking. a flanged metal beam or bar of uniform section, as a channel iron, I-beam, etc.
- Nautical, Naval Termsa ball, cone, drum, etc., used as a day signal, singly or in combinations, to designate a vessel at anchor or engaged in some particular operation.
- take shape, to assume a fixed form;
become definite:The house is beginning to take shape.
v.t.
- to give definite form, shape, organization, or character to;
fashion or form. - to couch or express in words:to shape a statement.
- to adjust;
adapt:He shaped everything to suit his taste. - to direct (one's course, future, etc.).
- to file the teeth of (a saw) to uniform width after jointing.
- Animal Behaviorto teach (a desired behavior) to a human or other animal by successively rewarding the actions that more and more closely approximate that behavior.
- [Obs.]to appoint;
decree.
v.i.
- to come to a desired conclusion or take place in a specified way:If discussions shape properly, the companies will merge.
- shape up:
- to assume a specific form:The plan is beginning to shape up.
- to evolve or develop, esp. favorably.
- to improve one's behavior or performance to meet a required standard.
- to get oneself into good physical condition.
- (of longshoremen) to get into a line or formation in order to be assigned the day's work.
- bef. 900; (noun, nominal) Middle English; Old English gesceapu (plural); replacing dialect, dialectal shap, Middle English; Old English gesceap (singular); cognate with Old Norse skap state, mood; (verb, verbal) Middle English; Old English sceapen (past participle); replacing Middle English sheppe, shippe, Old English sceppan, scyppan; cognate with German schaffen, Old Norse skepja, Gothic -skapjan to make
- 1. silhouette, appearance. See form. 4. specter, illusion. 7. order, pattern. 8. order, situation. 15. mold, model.
SHAPE (shāp),USA pronunciation n.
- GovernmentSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
shape /ʃeɪp/ n
- the outward form of an object defined by outline
- the figure or outline of the body of a person
- a phantom
- organized or definite form: my plans are taking shape
- the form that anything assumes; guise
- something used to provide or define form; pattern; mould
- condition or state of efficiency: to be in good shape
- out of shape ⇒
- in bad physical condition
- bent, twisted, or deformed
- take shape ⇒ to assume a definite form
- when intr, often followed by into or up: to receive or cause to receive shape or form
- (transitive) to mould into a particular pattern or form; modify
- (transitive) to plan, devise, or prepare: to shape a plan of action
an obsolete word for appoint
'SHAPE' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
accommodation
- Afro
- alewife
- amoeba
- amorphous
- angel hair
- angle
- angularity
- anvil
- aquiline
- arborescent
- arc
- arquebus
- arrow
- arrowhead
- artefact
- avocado
- bastard
- beanbag
- beat
- bill
- billet
- blind
- block
- blouson
- blow
- blowpipe
- body
- bow window
- box girder
- breast
- bridge
- bridge roll
- buckle
- bullfinch
- bullet
- bun
- camel toe
- cardinal vowels
- cast
- cast iron
- cast steel
- cat's-eye
- cataplasm
- chip
- choux pastry
- chubby
- circle
- circuit
- A, a
