Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - shape

~1 n 1 »OUTER FORM« a) the outer form of something, that you see or feel  (What shape is the table - round or oval? | You can recognize a tree by the shape of its leaves. | round/square etc in shape)  (The eyeball is almost spherical in shape. | lose its shape (=become the wrong shape))  (His battered old hat had completely lost its shape. | out of shape (=having become the wrong shape))  (Meryl's sweater had stretched completely out of shape. | in the shape of (=having the same shape as something))  (She was wearing a pin in the shape of a bird.) b) a particular shape, or thing that is that shape  (OK Katie, which of these shapes are triangles?) 2 »THING NOT SEEN CLEARLY« a thing or person that you cannot see clearly enough to recognize  (A large shape loomed up out of the mist.) 3 »CHARACTER OF STH« a particular combination of qualities and features that something has  (the shape of)  (the shape of British politics today | Dr Singh was responsible for the final shape of the report. | in any shape or form (=of any kind))  (We will not tolerate racism in any shape or form. | the shape of things to come (=an example of the way things will develop in the future)) 4 in the shape of used to explain what something consists of  (sth comes in the shape of)  (Help came in the shape of a $10,000 loan from his parents.) 5 in good/bad/poor shape a) in a good or bad condition  (Considering how old the car is, it's not in bad shape.) b) in a good or bad state of health or physical fitness (1)  (After three months without any exercise or training the champion's in poor shape.) 6 in shape/out of shape in a good or bad state of health or physical fitness (1)  (get (yourself) into shape)  (I've got to get into shape before summer.) 7 knock/lick sb into shape informal to make someone better so that they reach the necessary standard  (Some of them lack experience, but we'll soon knock them into shape.) 8 take shape to develop into a clear and definite form  (An idea was beginning to take shape in his mind.) 9 in/of all shapes and sizes of many different types  (come in all shapes and sizes)  (Domestic pets come in all shapes and sizes.) ~2 v 1 to influence something such as a belief, opinion etc and make it develop in a particular way  (People's political beliefs are often shaped by what they read in the newspapers.) 2 to make something have a particular shape, especially by pressing it  (shape sth into sth)  (Shape the dough into small balls.) shape up phr v informal 1 to make progress and improve in the way you want  (The new recruits are shaping up nicely.) 2 to improve your behaviour or work  (If you don't shape up, I'll have to contact your parents.) 3 shape up or ship out AmE spoken used to tell someone that if they do not improve they will be made to leave a place or their job