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.
SHAPELESS
Shape"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of shape or regular form; wanting symmetry of
dimensions; misshapen; — opposed to Ant: shapely.
— Shape"less*ness, n.
The shapeless rock, or hanging precipice. Pope.
SHAPELINESS
Shape"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being shapely.