15 PHRASE When something takes shape , it develops or starts to appear in such a way that it becomes fairly clear what its final form will be. □ By Friday night, when we held our regular board meeting, a plan was taking shape.
▸ shape up
1 PHRASAL VERB If something is shaping up , it is starting to develop or seems likely to happen. □ [V P ] There are also indications that a major tank battle may be shaping up for tonight. □ [V P + as ] The accident is already shaping up as a significant environmental disaster. □ [V P to-inf] It's shaping up to be a terrible winter. [Also V P + into ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you ask how someone or something is shaping up , you want to know how well they are doing in a particular situation or activity. □ [V P + as ] I did have a few worries about how Hugh and I would shape up as parents. □ [V P adv] Girls are being recruited now. I heard they are shaping up very well.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you tell someone to shape up , you are telling them to start behaving in a sensible and responsible way. □ [V P ] It is no use simply to tell adolescents to shape up and do something useful.
shaped ◆◇◇ /ʃe I pt/ ADJ [adv ADJ ] Something that is shaped like a particular object or in a particular way has the shape of that object or a shape of that type. □ [+ like ] A new perfume from Russia came in a bottle shaped like a tank. □ …oddly shaped little packages.
-shaped /-ʃe I pt/ COMB -shaped combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe the shape of an object. □ …large, heart-shaped leaves. □ …an L-shaped settee.
shape|less /ʃe I pləs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is shapeless does not have a distinct or attractive shape. □ Aunt Mary wore shapeless black dresses.
shape|ly /ʃe I pli/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a woman as shapely , you mean that she has an attractive shape. [APPROVAL ] □ …her shapely legs.
shard /ʃɑː r d/ (shards ) N‑COUNT Shards are pieces of broken glass, pottery, or metal. □ [+ of ] Eyewitnesses spoke of rocks and shards of glass flying in the air.
share ◆◆◆ /ʃeə r / (shares , sharing , shared )
1 N‑COUNT A company's shares are the many equal parts into which its ownership is divided. Shares can be bought by people as an investment. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ in ] This is why Sir Colin Marshall, British Airways' chairman, has been so keen to buy shares in U.S.-AIR. □ For some months the share price remained fairly static.
2 VERB If you share something with another person, you both have it, use it, or occupy it. You can also say that two people share something. □ [V n + with ] …the small income he had shared with his brother from his father's estate. □ [V n] Two Americans will share this year's Nobel Prize for Medicine. □ [be V -ed + between ] Scarce water resources are shared between states who cannot trust each other. □ [V -ed] Most hostel tenants would prefer single to shared rooms.
3 VERB If you share a task, duty, or responsibility with someone, you each carry out or accept part of it. You can also say that two people share something. □ [V n + with ] You can find out whether they are prepared to share the cost of the flowers with you. □ [V n] The republics have worked out a plan for sharing control of nuclear weapons.
4 VERB If you share an experience with someone, you have the same experience, often because you are with them at the time. You can also say that two people share something. □ [V n + with ] Yes, I want to share my life with you. □ [V n] I felt we both shared the same sense of loss, felt the same pain.
5 VERB [no cont] If you share someone's opinion, you agree with them. □ [V n] We share his view that business can be a positive force for change. □ [V -ed] Prosperity and economic success remain popular and broadly shared goals.
6 VERB [no cont] If one person or thing shares a quality or characteristic with another, they have the same quality or characteristic. You can also say that two people or things share something. □ [V n + with ] …newspapers which share similar characteristics with certain British newspapers. □ [V n] …two groups who share a common language.
7 VERB If you share something that you have with someone, you give some of it to them or let them use it. □ [V n + with ] The village tribe is friendly and they share their water supply with you. □ [V n + among ] Scientists now have to compete for funding, and do not share information among themselves. □ [V n] Toddlers are notoriously antisocial when it comes to sharing toys. [Also V ]
8 VERB If you share something personal such as a thought or a piece of news with someone, you tell them about it. □ [V n + with ] It can be beneficial to share your feelings with someone you trust. □ [V n] The renowned film critic shares his thoughts on the week's new movies.
9 VERB If you share something such as a message, photograph, or link, you post it on social media so that other people can see it. □ [V n] With your phone you can take great pictures and share them instantly.
10 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If something is divided or distributed among a number of different people or things, each of them has, or is responsible for, a share of it. □ [+ of ] Sara also pays a share of the gas, electricity and phone bills. [Also + in ]
11 N‑COUNT If you have or do your share of something, you have or do an amount that seems reasonable to you, or to other people. □ [+ of ] Women must receive their fair share of training for good-paying jobs.