shape

shape¹ W2S2 [ʃeıp] n

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1¦(round/square etc)¦

2¦(health/condition)¦

3 knock/lick/get somebody/something into shape

4¦(character of something)¦

5 take shape

6 in the shape of something

7 not in any shape or form

8¦(thing not seen clearly)¦

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1.) ¦(ROUND/SQUARE ETC)¦ [U and C]

the form that something has, for example round, square, ↑triangular etc

▪ What shape is the table?

▪ You can recognize a tree by the shape of its leaves.

round/square etc in shape

▪ The dining room was square in shape.

▪ His battered old hat had completely lost its shape.

in the shape of sth

▪ a silver pin in the shape of a large bird

▪ The plants grow in every shape and size .

▪ The children cut out shapes (=squares, triangles etc) from the piece of cardboard.

out of shape

▪ The wheel had been bent out of shape.

2.) ¦(HEALTH/CONDITION)¦

a) in good/bad/poor etc shape

in good, bad etc condition, or in good, bad etc health

▪ For an old car, it's in pretty good shape.

▪ The economy is in worse shape now than it was last year.

▪ Kaplan seemed to be in better shape than either of us.

b) in shape/out of shape

in a good or bad state of health or physical ↑fitness

→↑fit, unfit ↑unfit

▪ I was feeling totally out of shape.

▪ I've got to get into shape before summer.

keep/stay in shape

▪ She's bought an exercise bike to keep in shape.

c) in no shape to do sth

to be sick, tired, drunk etc, and not able to do something well

▪ Mel was in no shape to drive home after the party.

3.) knock/lick/get sb/sth into shape

to make someone or something better so that they reach the necessary standard

▪ Some of them lack experience, but we'll soon knock them into shape.

4.) ¦(CHARACTER OF SOMETHING)¦ [singular]

the way something looks, works, or is organized

shape of

▪ Computers have completely changed the shape of our industry.

▪ This new technique is the shape of things to come (=an example of the way things will develop in the future) .

5.) take shape

to develop into a clear and definite form

▪ An idea was beginning to take shape in his mind.

6.) in the shape of sth

used to explain what something consists of

▪ Help came in the shape of a $10,000 loan from his parents.

7.) not in any shape or form also not in any way, shape, or form

used to say that you will not accept something for any reason

▪ We will not tolerate racism in any shape or form.

8.) ¦(THING NOT SEEN CLEARLY)¦

a thing or person that you cannot see clearly enough to recognize

▪ A dark shape moved behind them.

shape ²

shape² S3 v [T]

[: Old English; Origin: scieppan]

1.) to influence something such as a belief, opinion etc and make it develop in a particular way

▪ People's political beliefs are shaped by what they see in the papers.

2.) to make something have a particular shape, especially by pressing it

shape sth into sth

▪ Shape the dough into small balls.

egg-shaped/V-shaped etc

▪ an L-shaped living room

shape up phr v

1.) to improve your behaviour or work

▪ You kids had better shape up, because I'm in no mood to fool around.

2.) to make progress in a particular way

▪ Ken's plans for the business are shaping up nicely.

shape up as

▪ Immigration is shaping up as a major issue in the campaign.

shape up to be sth

▪ It's shaping up to be a pretty big party.

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