SHAPING

formative, shaping, plastic

(adjective) forming or capable of forming or molding or fashioning; “a formative influence”; “a formative experience”; “the plastic forces of nature”

formation, shaping

(noun) the act of fabricating something in a particular shape

shaping, defining

(noun) any process serving to define the shape of something

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Noun

shaping (plural shapings)

The action of the verb to shape.

(psychology) A method of positive reinforcement of behaviour patterns in operant conditioning.

Verb

shaping

present participle of shape

Anagrams

• hasping, pashing, phasing

Source: Wiktionary

SHAPE

Shape, v. t. [imp. Shaped; p. p. Shaped or Shapen; p. pr. & vb. n. Shaping.] Etym: [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See Shape, n.]

1. To form or create; especially, to mold or make into a particular form; to give proper form or figure to. I was shapen in iniquity. Ps. li. 5. Grace shaped her limbs, and beauty decked her face. Prior.

2. To adapt to a purpose; to regulate; to adjust; to direct; as, to shape the course of a vessel. To the stream, when neither friends, nor force, Nor spead nor art avail, he shapes his course. Denham. Charmed by their eyes, their manners I acqire, And shape my foolishness to their desire. Prior.

3. To image; to conceive; to body forth. Oft my jealousy Shapes faults that are not. Shak.

4. To design; to prepare; to plan; to arrange. When shapen was all this conspiracy, From point to point. Chaucer. Shaping machine. (Mach.) Same as Shaper.

– To shape one's self, to prepare; to make ready. [Obs.] I will early shape me therefor. Chaucer.

Shape, v. i.

Definition: To suit; to be adjusted or conformable. [R.] Shak.

Shape, n. Etym: [OE. shap, schap, AS. sceap in gesceap creation, creature, fr. the root of scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, to shape, to do, to effect; akin to OS. giskeppian, OFries. skeppa, D. scheppen, G. schaffen, OHG. scaffan, scepfen, skeffen, Icer. skapa, skepja, Dan. skabe, skaffe, Sw. skapa, skaffa, Goth. gaskapjan, and perhaps to E. shave, v. Cf. -ship.]

1. Character or construction of a thing as determining its external appearance; outward aspect; make; figure; form; guise; as, the shape of a tree; the shape of the head; an elegant shape. He beat me grievously, in the shape of a woman. Shak.

2. That which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance; a being. Before the gates three sat, On either side, a formidable shape. Milton.

3. A model; a pattern; a mold.

4. Form of embodiment, as in words; form, as of thought or conception; concrete embodiment or example, as of some quality. Milton.

5. Dress for disguise; guise. [Obs.] Look better on this virgin, and consider This Persian shape laid by, and she appearing In a Greekish dress. Messinger.

6. (Iron Manuf.) (a) A rolled or hammered piece, as a bar, beam, angle iron, etc., having a cross section different from merchant bar. (b) A piece which has been roughly forged nearly to the form it will receive when completely forged or fitted. To take shape, to assume a definite form.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition