noun
shaping
noun
1
The process of giving something form, direction, or structure.
"The shaping of the clay took hours of careful work."
"Good mentors play a big role in shaping a young athlete's career."
2
In psychology, a method of gradually training a behavior by reinforcing small steps toward the goal.
"The trainer used shaping to teach the dolphin its full routine one step at a time."
How to Use Shaping
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act of forming something — physically, or (in psychology) a behavior — over time.
Common pairings
shaping a policy
shaping behavior
shaping clay
Word Forms
shapings plural
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The _____ of the clay took hours of careful work.
Etymology
From Middle English schapynge, formed from shape plus the suffix -ing.