I.
noun
1 physical outline
ADJECTIVE
▪ basic , simple
▪
The children cut the paper into various simple ~s.
▪ overall
▪ characteristic , distinctive , familiar , unique
▪
I recognized the distinctive ~ of a 747.
▪ natural , normal
▪ interesting , strange , unusual , weird
▪ awkward
▪
The desk was an awkward ~ and wouldn't fit through the door.
▪ original
▪ geometric , geometrical
▪ regular , symmetrical
▪ complex
▪ asymmetrical , irregular
▪ abstract
▪ odd , random
▪
tiles of random ~
▪ solid , three-dimensional
▪ aerodynamic
▪ organic
▪
She drew inspiration from organic ~s in the surrounding landscape.
▪ desired
▪
Draw the desired ~ onto white paper,
▪ angular , circular , cone , conical , crescent , curved , cylindrical , diamond , dome , elliptical , elongated , hexagonal , oblong , oval , pyramid , rectangular , round , spherical , square , triangular , wedge
▪ rounded , smooth
▪ egg , heart , hourglass , pear , star , etc.
▪
The bruise was a sort of mushroom ~.
▪ L , V , etc.
▪
The road forms an L ~.
▪ blurred , ghostly , indistinct , shadowy , vague
▪ huge , large , massive
▪ black , dark , grey/gray
▪ human
▪ body
▪
You can't change your natural body ~.
▪ face , facial
▪
Opt for a hairstyle to suit your face ~.
VERB + SHAPE
▪ cut out , draw , make , trace
▪
Fold the paper to make the ~ of a cone.
▪
First draw the rough ~ of your chosen animal.
▪ carve sth in , carve sth into , cut sth into , make sth in , produce sth in
▪
a log carved into the ~ of a fish
▪
a cheese similar to Brie but produced in a different ~
▪ come in , have
▪
Tables come in various ~s.
▪ assume , form , make , take on
▪
Ordinary things assumed different ~s in the mist.
▪ hold , keep , maintain , retain
▪
These garments will retain their ~ even with repeated washing.
▪ regain
▪ change
▪ lose
▪ distort
▪
The lens distorts ~s.
▪ distinguish , make out , see
▪
I could just make out the ~s of animals in the field.
SHAPE + VERB
▪ appear , emerge , loom
▪
Ghostly ~s loomed out of the fog.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ for
▪
the optimum ~ for a plane
▪ in the ~ of
▪
a doormat in the ~ of a cat
PHRASES
▪ all ~s and sizes
▪
T-shirts come in all ~s and sizes.
▪
People of all ~s and sizes work for our company.
▪ circular, hexagonal, oblong, rectangular, etc. in ~
▪
The island is roughly circular in ~.
2 structure/nature of sth
ADJECTIVE
▪ general , overall
▪ changing
▪ final
▪ future
VERB + SHAPE
▪ alter , change , determine , influence
▪
He did much to determine the ~ of Asia's political map.
▪ take
▪
A wonderful idea began to take ~ in her brain.
▪ give
▪
the words we use to give a ~ to our feelings
PHRASES
▪ the ~ of things to come
▪
This new system could be the ~ of things to come.
▪ in any ~ or form ( esp. BrE )
▪
I can't stand insects in any ~ or form.
3 good or bad condition
ADJECTIVE
▪ decent , excellent , fine , good , great
▪ perfect , tip-top , top ( esp. AmE )
▪ bad , poor , rough ( esp. AmE ), terrible
▪
After the night before, he was in rough ~.
▪ physical
▪
He's 64, but he's in better physical ~ than I am.
▪ financial
▪
The company is in good financial ~.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ for
▪
to be in good ~ for combat
PHRASES
▪ get sb/sth into ~ , knock sb/sth into ~ ( esp. BrE ), lick sb/sth into ~ ( BrE ), whip sb/sth into ~ ( esp. AmE )
▪
Get your body into ~ for the summer!
▪
Leave the boy with me—I'll soon knock him into ~!
▪ be in good, excellent, etc. ~
▪
You are in pretty good ~ for your age.
▪ get in ~ , get into ~
▪
I need to get back into ~ after the Christmas holiday.
▪ keep in ~ , stay in ~
▪
She likes to stay in ~.
▪ be out of ~
II.
verb
ADVERB
▪ decisively , fundamentally , powerfully , profoundly
▪
Memory can be profoundly ~d by subsequent experience.
▪ largely
▪ partly
▪ actively , deliberately
▪
actively shaping the history of their country
VERB + SHAPE
▪ help (to)
▪ continue to
▪
The fictional Capone has continued to ~ America's vision of the 1920s.
PREPOSITION
▪ in
▪
a crudely carved python ~d in a spiral
▪ into
▪
The dough is ~d into balls and fried.
PHRASES
▪ be a factor in shaping sth , be a force in shaping sth
▪
Work was an important factor in shaping their children's attitudes.
▪ be important in shaping sth , be influential in shaping sth , have influence in shaping sth
▪
The media had great influence in shaping public opinion.
▪ have a hand in shaping sth , have a part in shaping sth , have a role in shaping sth , play a role in shaping sth
▪
Economists had a direct hand in shaping government policy.
▪
Money played a major role in shaping his decision.
▪
the role that faith has played in shaping American society
▪ be responsible for shaping sth
▪
He was responsible for shaping my career.
Shape is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑ influence
Shape is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ attitude , ↑ behaviour , ↑ character , ↑ clay , ↑ course , ↑ culture , ↑ debate , ↑ decision , ↑ destiny , ↑ development , ↑ direction , ↑ dough , ↑ economy , ↑ environment , ↑ evolution , ↑ expectation , ↑ future , ↑ idea , ↑ identity , ↑ landscape , ↑ opinion , ↑ perception , ↑ personality , ↑ policy , ↑ politics , ↑ practice , ↑ preference , ↑ society , ↑ thinking , ↑ understanding , ↑ view , ↑ world