» shape

Words people most associate with “shape”:

  1. square,
  2. triangle,
  3. form,
  4. circle,
  5. round

[via wordassociation.org]

Noun (8 meanings)

1. any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline).

shape, form, configuration, contour, conformation

Example:
  • “he could barely make out their shapes”
shape is a type of:
types of shape:
  • angularity (noun) - the property possessed by a shape that has angles
  • concavity, concaveness (noun) - the property possessed by a concave shape
  • convexity, convexness (noun) - the property possessed by a convex shape
  • crookedness (noun) - having or distinguished by crooks or curves or bends or angles
  • curvature, curve (noun) - the property possessed by the curving of a line or surface
  • dullness, bluntness (noun) - without sharpness or clearness of edge or point
  • lobularity (noun) - the property of having lobules
  • narrowing (noun) - an instance of becoming narrow
  • roundness (noun) - the property possessed by a line or surface that is curved and not angular
  • sharpness, keenness (noun) - thinness of edge or fineness of point
  • straightness (noun) - freedom from crooks or curves or bends or angles
  • stratification (noun) - a layered configuration
  • topography (noun) - the configuration of a surface and the relations among its man-made and natural features
Attribute:
  • crooked (adjective) - having or marked by bends or angles
  • straight (adjective) - having no deviations
shape is derivationally related to:
  • to contour (verb) - form the contours of
  • to shape, form (verb) - give shape or form to

2. the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance.

shape, form

Example:
  • “geometry is the mathematical science of shape”
shape is a type of:
  • attribute (noun) - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity
types of shape:
  • distorted shape, distortion (noun) - a shape resulting from distortion
  • figure (noun) - a combination of points and lines and planes that form a visible palpable shape
  • flare, flair (noun) - a shape that spreads outward
  • line (noun) - a length (straight or curved) without breadth or thickness
  • natural shape (noun) - a shape created by natural forces
  • plane, sheet (noun) - (mathematics) an unbounded two-dimensional shape
  • plume (noun) - anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness
  • round shape (noun) - a shape that is curved and without sharp angles
  • solid (noun) - a three-dimensional shape
  • square (noun) - something approximating the shape of a square
  • triangle (noun) - something approximating the shape of a triangle

3. alternative names for the body of a human being.

human body, physical body, material body, soma, build, figure, physique, anatomy, shape, bod, chassis, frame, form, flesh

Examples:
  • “Leonardo studied the human body”,
  • “he has a strong physique”,
  • “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”
shape is a type of:
types of shape:
  • adult body (noun) - the body of an adult human being
  • female body (noun) - the body of a female human being
  • juvenile body (noun) - the body of a young person
  • male body (noun) - the body of a male human being
  • person (noun) - a human body (usually including the clothing)
shape is a part of:
shape is derivationally related to:

4. a concrete representation of an otherwise nebulous concept.

shape, embodiment

Example:
  • “a circle was the embodiment of his concept of life”
shape is a type of:
shape is derivationally related to:

5. the visual appearance of something or someone.

form, shape, cast

Example:
  • “the delicate cast of his features”
shape is a type of:
shape is derivationally related to:

6. the state of (good) health (especially in the phrases `in condition' or `in shape' or `out of condition' or `out of shape').

condition, shape

shape is a type of:
types of shape:

7. the supreme headquarters that advises NATO on military matters and oversees all aspects of the Allied Command Europe.

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, SHAPE

shape is a type of:
shape is a part of:

8. a perceptual structure.

form, shape, pattern

Examples:
  • “the composition presents problems for students of musical form”,
  • “a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them”
shape is a type of:
  • structure (noun) - the complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations
types of shape:
  • fractal (noun) - (mathematics) a geometric pattern that is repeated at every scale and so cannot be represented by classical geometry
  • gestalt (noun) - a configuration or pattern of elements so unified as a whole that it cannot be described merely as a sum of its parts
  • grid (noun) - a pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines
  • kaleidoscope (noun) - a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes
  • mosaic (noun) - a pattern resembling a mosaic
  • strand (noun) - a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole
shape is a part of:
shape is derivationally related to:

Verb (3 meanings)

1. shape or influence; give direction to.

to determine, shape, mold, influence, regulate

Examples:
  • “experience often determines ability”,
  • “mold public opinion”
to shape is a way to:
ways to shape:
  • to carry weight (verb) - have influence to a specified degree
  • to decide (verb) - influence or determine
  • to dispose, incline (verb) - make receptive or willing towards an action or attitude or belief
  • to index (verb) - adjust through indexation
  • to indispose, disincline (verb) - make unwilling
  • to miscreate (verb) - shape or form or make badly
  • to pace (verb) - regulate or set the pace of
  • to predetermine (verb) - determine beforehand
  • to reshape (verb) - shape anew or differently
  • to time (verb) - set the speed, duration, or execution of
to shape is derivationally related to:

2. make something, usually for a specific function.

to shape, form, work, mold, mould, forge

Examples:
  • “She molded the rice balls carefully”,
  • “Form cylinders from the dough”,
  • “shape a figure”,
  • “Work the metal into a sword”
to shape is a way to:
ways to shape:
  • to beat (verb) - shape by beating
  • to carve (verb) - form by carving
  • to cast, mold, mould (verb) - form by pouring (e.g., wax or hot metal) into a cast or mold
  • to chip (verb) - form by chipping
  • to cut out (verb) - form and create by cutting out
  • to grind (verb) - shape or form by grinding
  • to handbuild, hand-build, coil (verb) - make without a potter's wheel
  • to hill (verb) - form into a hill
  • to layer (verb) - make or form a layer
  • to machine (verb) - turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery
  • to model, mold, mould (verb) - form in clay, wax, etc
  • to mound (verb) - form into a rounded elevation
  • to preform (verb) - form or shape beforehand or determine the shape of beforehand
  • to preform (verb) - form into a shape resembling the final, desired one
  • to puddle (verb) - subject to puddling or form by puddling
  • to reshape, remold (verb) - shape again or shape differently
  • to roughcast (verb) - shape roughly
  • to sculpt, sculpture (verb) - create by shaping stone or wood or any other hard material
  • to sinter (verb) - cause (ores or powdery metals) to become a coherent mass by heating without melting
  • to stamp (verb) - form or cut out with a mold, form, or die
  • to swage, upset (verb) - form metals with a swage
  • to throw (verb) - make on a potter's wheel
to shape is derivationally related to:
Verb group:

3. give shape or form to.

to shape, form

Examples:
  • “shape the dough”,
  • “form the young child's character”
to shape is a way to:
ways to shape:
  • to deform, distort, strain (verb) - alter the shape of (something) by stress
  • to dimension (verb) - shape or form to required dimensions
  • to dish (verb) - make concave
  • to draw (verb) - flatten, stretch, or mold metal or glass, by rolling or by pulling it through a die or by stretching
  • to encircle, circle (verb) - form a circle around
  • to fit (verb) - make fit
  • to flatten (verb) - make flat or flatter
  • to fork (verb) - shape like a fork
  • to individuate (verb) - give individual shape or form to
  • to plume (verb) - form a plume
  • to ridge (verb) - form into a ridge
  • to roll (verb) - shape by rolling
  • to round, round out, round off (verb) - make round
  • to scallop, scollop (verb) - shape or cut in scallops
  • to sliver (verb) - form into slivers
  • to square, square up (verb) - make square
  • to strike (verb) - cause to form (an electric arc) between electrodes of an arc lamp
  • to tabulate (verb) - shape or cut with a flat surface
  • to terrace (verb) - make into terraces as for cultivation
  • to tie (verb) - form a knot or bow in
  • to turn (verb) - shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel
  • to twist (verb) - form into twists
to shape is derivationally related to:
  • form (noun) - a mold for setting concrete
  • form, shape, cast (noun) - the visual appearance of something or someone
  • form, shape, pattern (noun) - a perceptual structure
  • formation, shaping (noun) - the act of fabricating something in a particular shape
  • formation (noun) - a particular spatial arrangement