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shape

n. · v.
US //ˈʃeɪp// UK //ʃˈeɪp// shape
  1. 1 physical form (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the outer form or outline of something, like a circle, square, or the outline of a person.

    the external form, contours, or outline of an object or figure.

    Example

    The clouds in the sky were in the shape of a giant bird.

    Example

    The artist used charcoal to capture the rough shape of the mountain before adding finer details to the landscape.
  2. 2 health or condition (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the physical condition or health of a person or an object.

    the state of health, fitness, or general condition of a person or thing.

    Example

    He goes to the gym every day to stay in good shape.

    Example

    After years of neglect, the old Victorian house was in poor shape and required extensive structural repairs.
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  1. 3 to form something (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make something into a particular form using your hands or a tool.

    to give a particular form or surface contour to an object, often through physical manipulation.

    Example

    She used her hands to shape the clay into a small bowl.

    Example

    The sculptor spent months shaping the marble block into a lifelike representation of a historical figure.
  2. 4 to influence (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to have a strong influence on how something develops, like a person's character or a plan.

    to influence the development or nature of something abstract, such as an idea, policy, or personality.

    Example

    Our childhood experiences often help shape who we are as adults.

    Example

    The new CEO's vision will likely shape the company's strategy for the next decade.
  3. 5 data structure (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a way to group different pieces of information together in some computer programming languages.

    a data structure in certain programming languages, such as Hack, consisting of a fixed set of named fields with specific types.

    Example

    The programmer defined a shape to store the user's name and age.

    Example

    Using a shape instead of a generic array allows the type checker to catch errors before the code is even executed.
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