shaper

shape

 (shāp)

n.

1.

a. The characteristic surface configuration of a thing; an outline or contour: a lake in the shape of an hourglass. See Synonyms at form.

b. Spatial form, contour, or appearance: The sandy coastline is always changing shape.

2.

a. The body or outward appearance of a person or an animal: saw two shapes walking toward her in the night.

b. The contour of a person's body; the figure: a swimmer with a slender shape.

3.

a. A definite or distinctive form: Our discussion acquired the shape of an argument.

b. Form, condition, or embodiment: How is your research project taking shape?

c. A desirable form: a fabric that holds its shape.

4.

a. Assumed or false appearance; guise: a god in the shape of a swan.

b. A ghostly form; a phantom: Shapes appeared in his bedroom at night.

5. Something, such as a mold or pattern, used to give or determine form.

6.

a. The condition of something with regard to effectiveness, use, or appearance: What kind of shape is your car in?

b. Bodily condition, as in regard to muscle tone or endurance: She's in great shape after working out for six months.

tr.v. shaped, shap·ing, shapes

1. To create or fashion, as:

a. To give a particular form to (a material): shape the dough into baguettes.

b. To create or configure, as from a material: a sculpture that was shaped out of ice.

2. To cause to conform to a particular form: a pool that is shaped like an hourglass; a bone that is shaped to bear weight.

3.

a. To plan or devise: shape a new educational program.

b. To embody in a definite form: shaped a folk tale into an opera.

4.

a. To influence in a formative way: experiences that shaped his identity.

b. To direct the course of: "He shaped history as well as being shaped by it" (Robert J. Samuelson).

Phrasal Verbs:

shape into

To develop into a particular form or condition: This is shaping into one of the biggest scandals of the century.

shape up

1. To turn out; develop: This ski season is shaping up to be the best in years.

2. To improve one's performance or behavior so as to meet a standard: Either shape up or ship out.

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[Middle English, from Old English gesceap, a creation.]

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shap′a·ble, shape′a·ble adj.

shaped adj.

shap′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	shaper - a person who makes things     maker creator - a person who grows or makes or invents things basketmaker, basketweaver - someone skilled in weaving baskets belt maker - a maker of belts bookmaker - a maker of books; someone who edits or publishes or binds books beer maker, brewer - someone who brews beer or ale from malt and hops and water chandler - a maker (and seller) of candles and soap and oils and paints cobbler, shoemaker - a person who makes or repairs shoes candymaker, confectioner - someone who makes candies and other sweets author, generator, source - someone who originates or causes or initiates something; "he was the generator of several complaints" glassmaker - someone who makes glass hatmaker, hatter, milliner, modiste - someone who makes and sells hats ironworker - a person who makes articles of iron jeweler, jeweller, jewelry maker - someone who makes jewelry maltman, maltster - a maker of malt producer, manufacturer - someone who manufactures something needleworker - someone who does work (as sewing or embroidery) with a needle patternmaker - someone who makes patterns (as for sewing or carpentry or metalworking) perfumer - a person who makes (and sells) perfumes piano maker - a person who makes pianos saddler - a maker and repairer and seller of equipment for horses sailmaker - a maker of sails shirtmaker - a maker of shirts spinner, thread maker, spinster - someone who spins (who twists fibers into threads) steelmaker, steelman, steelworker - a worker engaged in making steel tentmaker - someone who makes or repairs tents toolmaker - someone skilled in making or repairing tools wine maker, winemaker, vintner - someone who makes wine violin maker - someone who makes violins horologer, horologist, watchmaker - someone who makes or repairs watches wigmaker - someone who makes and sells wigs
	2.	shaper - a machine tool for shaping metal or wood shaping machine lathe - machine tool for shaping metal or wood; the workpiece turns about a horizontal axis against a fixed tool machine tool - a powered machine for cutting or shaping or finishing metals or other materials milling machine, miller - machine tool in which metal that is secured to a carriage is fed against rotating cutters that shape it

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.