SHAPE

(CHARACTER) [noun] [U] - the way something is organized; the general character or nature of somethingWe need to have the main shape of the proposals decided by early April.Technological developments have changed the shape of industry.There have been some disagreements about what the future shape of the newspaper should be.I think we need to change the shape of our campaign.Our ideas are beginning to take shape (= become formed).I hope the fashions pictured in this magazine are not the shape of things to come (= a sign of what is likely to be popular in the future).