What does "shape" mean?

Shape: Grace shaped her limbs, and beauty decked her face. Prior.

Additional senses

  1. 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.
  2. 3.To image; to conceive; to body forth. Oft my jealousy Shapes faults that are not. Shak.
  3. 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.
  4. 5.To suit; to be adjusted or conformable. [R.] Shak.
  5. 6.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.
  6. 7.That which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance; a being. Before the gates three sat, On either side, a formidable shape. Milton.
  7. 8.A model; a pattern; a mold.
  8. 9.Form of embodiment, as in words; form, as of thought or conception; concrete embodiment or example, as of some quality. Milton.
  9. 10.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.
  10. 11.(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.

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