- the external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure形状; 外观; 外形：
she liked the shape of his nose
她喜欢他鼻子的形状
house plants come in all shapes and sizes
室内植物有各种形状和大小
mass noun chest freezers are square or rectangular in shape.柜式冰箱的形状是正方形或长方形的。
- a person or thing that is difficult to see and identify clearly模糊的人影（或物影）：
he saw a shape through the mist.
透过薄雾, 他看见一个模糊的人影。
- usu. with adj. or noun modifier a specific form or guise assumed by someone or something伪装; 假装：
a fiend in human shape.
伪装成人的魔鬼。
- a piece of material, paper, etc., made or cut in a particular form特定形状的东西; 模型：
stick paper shapes on for the puppet's eyes and nose.
给木偶粘上纸剪的眼睛和鼻子。
- mass noun with adj. the particular condition or state of someone or something特定的条件（或状况）：
he was in no shape to drive
他状态不好, 开不了车
the building was in poor shape.
这幢楼很破旧。
- the distinctive nature or qualities of something特色; 特征：
debates about the future shape of British society.
关于英国社会将来会是什么样子的争论。
- definite or orderly arrangement有序的排列; 条理清楚：
check that your structure will give shape to your essay.
检查一下你的结构是否能使文章条理清楚。
- give a particular shape or form to使成形, 塑造：
most caves are shaped by the flow of water through limestone
大部分洞穴是水流经石灰岩形成的
shape the dough into two-inch balls.
把面团揉成一个个两英寸的圆球。
- make (something) fit the form of something else使适合; 使符合：
with obj. and infinitive suits have been shaped to fit so snugly that no curve is undefined.套服做得非常合身, 没有哪条曲线不清晰。
- determine the nature of; have a great influence on决定…性质; 对…有巨大影响：
his childhood was shaped by a loving relationship with his elder brother.
他与哥哥之间的挚爱情谊对他童年影响很大。
- no obj., with adverbial develop in a particular way; progress朝特定方向发展; 进展：
the yacht was shaping well in trials.
这艘游艇试航时表现很好。
- form or produce (a sound or words)形成, 产生（声音, 词）
- no obj.(of a sports player or athlete) take up a stance or set oneself to perform a particular action（运动员）摆姿势, 做动作：
with infinitive I had plenty of time and shaped to kick to the near touchline.我有足够的时间摆好姿势将球踢至近处边线。
get into shape（或 get someone into shape）
- become (or make someone) physically fitter by exercise（通过锻炼）使身体健康：
if you're thinking of getting into shape, take it easy and build up slowly.
如果你想让身体健康, 那就放松一点, 慢慢锻炼。
in any （way,） shape or form
- in any manner or under any circumstances (used for emphasis)以任何形式; 在各种情况之下（用于强调）：
96 per cent of the electorate voted against Europeanization in any shape or form.
96%的选民投票反对任何形式的欧洲一体化。
in (good) shape
- in good physical condition健康状况良好。
in the shape of
- represented or embodied by以…形式表现（或体现）：
retribution arrived in the shape of my irate father.
父亲勃然大怒, 这就是我受到的惩罚。
- by way of; in the nature of通过…形式; 具有…性质：
there had been little or nothing in the shape of academic planning.
一直很少或者没有学术规划。
lick （或 knock 或 whip） someone/thing into shape
- act forcefully to bring someone or something into a fitter, more efficient, or better organized state（用强力）把…训练好; 把…整顿好; 使像样：
the bank was eager to whip the company into shape for eventual sale.
这家银行急着要大力整顿好这家公司, 以便最终出售。
out of shape
- (of an object) not having its usual or original shape, especially after being bent or knocked（尤指物体弯曲或撞击后）变形; 变样：
check that the pipe end and compression nut are not bent out of shape.
检查确认管子末端和压缩螺帽并未弯曲变形。
- (of a person) in poor physical condition; unfit身体不好; 不舒服。
the shape of things to come
- the way the future is likely to develop未来发展趋势。
- ORIGIN: the title of a novel by H. G. Wells (1933).
shape up or ship out
- informal, chiefly N. Amer. used as an ultimatum to someone to improve their performance or behaviour or face being made to leave〈非正式, 主北美〉表现好一点, 否则滚蛋。
take shape
- assume a distinct form; develop into something definite or tangible成形; 形成：
the past few months have seen the state's health insurance legislation begin to take shape.
国家医疗保险立法在过去几个月中开始成形。
shapable
（亦作 shapeable）adjectiveshaped
adjective蛋形的
X-shaped
X形的
shaper
nounshape up
- develop or happen in a particular way（以特定方式）发展; 发生：
it was shaping up to be another bleak year.
看样子又将是一个不景气的年份。
-
shape something up
informal improve something〈非正式〉改善, 改进： department stores have been forced to shape up their acts.
百货商店被迫改进它们的做法。
- become physically fit锻炼身体：
I need to shape up.
我需要锻炼身体。