- shape
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 physical outlineADJECTIVE▪ basic, simple▪
The children cut the paper into various simple shapes.
▪ overall▪ characteristic, distinctive, familiar, unique▪I recognized the distinctive shape of a 747.
▪ natural, normal▪ interesting, strange, unusual, weird▪ awkward▪The desk was an awkward shape and wouldn't fit through the door.
▪ original▪ geometric, geometrical▪ regular, symmetrical▪ complex▪ asymmetrical, irregular▪ abstract▪ odd, random▪tiles of random shape
▪ solid, three-dimensional▪ aerodynamic▪ organic▪She drew inspiration from organic shapes in the surrounding landscape.
▪ desired▪Draw the desired shape onto white paper,
▪ angular, circular, cone, conical, crescent, curved, cylindrical, diamond, dome, elliptical, elongated, hexagonal, oblong, oval, pyramid, rectangular, round, spherical, square, triangular, wedge▪ rounded, smooth▪ egg, heart, hourglass, pear, star, etc.▪The bruise was a sort of mushroom shape.
▪ L, V, etc.▪The road forms an L shape.
▪ blurred, ghostly, indistinct, shadowy, vague▪ huge, large, massive▪ black, dark, grey/gray▪ human▪ body▪You can't change your natural body shape.
▪ face, facial▪Opt for a hairstyle to suit your face shape.
VERB + SHAPE▪ cut out, draw, make, trace▪Fold the paper to make the shape of a cone.
▪First draw the rough shape of your chosen animal.
▪ carve sth in, carve sth into, cut sth into, make sth in, produce sth in▪a log carved into the shape of a fish
▪a cheese similar to Brie but produced in a different shape
▪ come in, have▪Tables come in various shapes.
▪ assume, form, make, take on▪Ordinary things assumed different shapes in the mist.
▪ hold, keep, maintain, retain▪These garments will retain their shape even with repeated washing.
▪ regain▪ change▪ lose▪ distort▪The lens distorts shapes.
▪ distinguish, make out, see▪I could just make out the shapes of animals in the field.
SHAPE + VERB▪ appear, emerge, loom▪Ghostly shapes loomed out of the fog.
PREPOSITION▪ shape for▪the optimum shape for a plane
▪ in the shape of▪a doormat in the shape of a cat
PHRASES▪ all shapes and sizes▪T-shirts come in all shapes and sizes.
▪People of all shapes and sizes work for our company.
▪ circular, hexagonal, oblong, rectangular, etc. in shape▪The island is roughly circular in shape.
2 structure/nature of sthADJECTIVE▪ general, overall▪ changing▪ final▪ futureVERB + SHAPE▪ alter, change, determine, influence▪He did much to determine the shape of Asia's political map.
▪ take▪A wonderful idea began to take shape in her brain.
▪ give▪the words we use to give a shape to our feelings
PHRASES▪ the shape of things to come▪This new system could be the shape of things to come.
▪ in any shape or form (esp. BrE)▪I can't stand insects in any shape or form.
3 good or bad conditionADJECTIVE▪ decent, excellent, fine, good, great▪ perfect, tip-top, top (esp. AmE)▪ bad, poor, rough (esp. AmE), terrible▪After the night before, he was in rough shape.
▪ physical▪He's 64, but he's in better physical shape than I am.
▪ financial▪The company is in good financial shape.
PREPOSITION▪ shape for▪to be in good shape for combat
PHRASES▪ get sb/sth into shape, knock sb/sth into shape (esp. BrE), lick sb/sth into shape (BrE), whip sb/sth into shape (esp. AmE)▪Get your body into shape for the summer!
▪Leave the boy with me—I'll soon knock him into shape!
▪ be in good, excellent, etc. shape▪You are in pretty good shape for your age.
▪ get in shape, get into shape▪I need to get back into shape after the Christmas holiday.
▪ keep in shape, stay in shape▪She likes to stay in shape.
▪ be out of shape{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}verbADVERB▪ decisively, fundamentally, powerfully, profoundly▪Memory can be profoundly shaped by subsequent experience.
▪ largely▪ partly▪ actively, deliberately▪actively shaping the history of their country
VERB + SHAPE▪ help (to)▪ continue to▪The fictional Capone has continued to shape America's vision of the 1920s.
PREPOSITION▪ in▪a crudely carved python shaped in a spiral
▪ into▪The dough is shaped into balls and fried.
PHRASES▪ be a factor in shaping sth, be a force in shaping sth▪Work was an important factor in shaping their children's attitudes.
▪ be important in shaping sth, be influential in shaping sth, have influence in shaping sth▪The media had great influence in shaping public opinion.
▪ have a hand in shaping sth, have a part in shaping sth, have a role in shaping sth, play a role in shaping sth▪Economists had a direct hand in shaping government policy.
▪Money played a major role in shaping his decision.
▪the role that faith has played in shaping American society
▪ be responsible for shaping sth▪He was responsible for shaping my career.
Shape is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑influenceShape is used with these nouns as the object: ↑attitude, ↑behaviour, ↑character, ↑clay, ↑course, ↑culture, ↑debate, ↑decision, ↑destiny, ↑development, ↑direction, ↑dough, ↑economy, ↑environment, ↑evolution, ↑expectation, ↑future, ↑idea, ↑identity, ↑landscape, ↑opinion, ↑perception, ↑personality, ↑policy, ↑politics, ↑practice, ↑preference, ↑society, ↑thinking, ↑understanding, ↑view, ↑world
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
