# shape

/ˈʃeɪp/ (US) · /ʃˈeɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shape
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical form

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The clouds in the sky were in the shape of a giant bird.
- The artist used charcoal to capture the rough shape of the mountain before adding finer details to the landscape.

### 2. health or condition

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- He goes to the gym every day to stay in good shape.
- After years of neglect, the old Victorian house was in poor shape and required extensive structural repairs.

### 3. to form something

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- She used her hands to shape the clay into a small bowl.
- The sculptor spent months shaping the marble block into a lifelike representation of a historical figure.

### 4. to influence

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- Our childhood experiences often help shape who we are as adults.
- The new CEO's vision will likely shape the company's strategy for the next decade.

### 5. data structure

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The programmer defined a shape to store the user's name and age.
- Using a shape instead of a generic array allows the type checker to catch errors before the code is even executed.

## Examples

- The clouds are in the shape of a heart.
- The baker uses a metal cutter to give the cookies a star shape before putting them in the oven.
- The architect designed the building to mimic the organic shape of a seashell, blending modern materials with natural curves.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.