Meaning & use
mold to shape
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To press or work a soft material until it has a particular form.
Grammar: Takes an object: mold the clay to shape. The thing being formed comes after the verb.
Patterns
- mold something to shape
- mold something to the shape of something
- be molded to shape
The potter molded the wet clay to shape with her hands.
Heat the plastic until it is soft enough to mold to shape.
Each panel is molded to shape in a large steel press.
verbtransitivefigurative
To influence how something develops so that it has the form you want.
Grammar: Often used about ideas, plans or institutions rather than physical objects; usually in the passive.
Patterns
- mold something to shape
- mold something to the shape of something
The new director molded the department to shape within a year.
Their early experiences molded the project to shape.
Word forms
| third person singular | molds to shape |
|---|---|
| past tense | molded to shape |
| past participle | molded to shape |
| -ing form | molding to shape |
Common combinations
- mold something to shape
- Workers mold the hot glass to shape before it cools.
- mold something to the shape of something
- She molded the dough to the shape of a small bowl.
- be molded to shape
- The seats are molded to shape to support the back.
- clay molded to shape
- The clay was molded to shape and left to dry.
- metal molded to shape
- The metal is molded to shape under great pressure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shape
- Use 'shape' when you simply give something a form; 'mold to shape' stresses working a soft material until it takes that form.
- form
- 'Form' is more neutral and common in technical writing, while 'mold to shape' suggests hands or a mold doing the work.
- fashion
- 'Fashion' is more literary and often used about making something with care or skill.
Word family
Commonly confused: mold to shape or mould? mold to shape or model?
mold to shape vs mould
'Mould' is the British spelling of the same word; American English uses 'mold'.
mold to shape vs model
'Model' means to make a copy or example of something, not to press material into a shape.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'mold to shape' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The object ('the dough') comes straight after the verb, followed by 'to shape'. Option 1 puts 'to shape' before the object, which is not the pattern; option 2 misses 'the' before 'shape'; option 3 uses the wrong form 'shaping'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mold to shape”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.