shapes

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Plural of shape: the outer forms of things, such as circles, squares and triangles, or the outlines of objects.

   Grammar: Plural of a countable noun: draw some shapes.

   Patterns

   • shapes of something
   • in all shapes and sizes

   The children sorted blocks into different shapes.

   Clouds took on strange shapes as the sun set.

   The bakery sells cookies in the shapes of animals.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Third person singular of shape: gives something a particular form, or strongly influences how it develops.

   Grammar: Takes an object: she shapes the clay; experience shapes opinion.

   Patterns

   • someone shapes something
   • something shapes someone

   The potter shapes each bowl by hand.

   Our early life shapes the way we see the world.

   This new law shapes how companies hire.

Word forms

Common combinations

geometric shapes

The poster is covered in bright geometric shapes.

all shapes and sizes

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes.

cut out shapes

The class cut out shapes from colored paper.

shapes the future

Technology shapes the future of work.

in the shapes of

The crackers were made in the shapes of stars.

Synonyms and how they differ

forms

This is a little more formal and can include shapes that are not clearly outlined.

outlines

This only describes the edge of a thing, not its whole form.

figures

This is common in geometry for closed shapes but is also used for human bodies.

molds

As a verb meaning shaping, molds suggests pressing into a set form, which is stricter than shapes.

Word family

shape noun

the outer form of something

shapeless adjective

without a clear form

shapely adjective

having an attractive form

reshape verb

to give a new form

Commonly confused: shapes or shape up?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “shapes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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