noun
Uncommon
shaping
Shaping (noun) means the process of giving something form, direction, or structure. Example: “The shaping of the clay took hours of careful work.”
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."
"The shaping of the new policy involved months of discussion."
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."
"Shaping works by rewarding a pigeon first for turning, then for pecking the button."
"Teachers sometimes use shaping, praising each small improvement until the child can read a whole sentence."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- shapings
Fill the gap
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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.
Related words
Rhymes for shaping
See all rhymes for shaping →Frequently asked questions
What does “shaping” mean?
The word “shaping” means the process of giving something form, direction, or structure. In plain terms, the act of forming something — physically, or (in psychology) a behavior — over time.
How do you use “shaping” in a sentence?
Here is “shaping” used in a sentence: “The shaping of the clay took hours of careful work.”
What part of speech is “shaping”?
“Shaping” is a noun.
Where does the word “shaping” come from?
The word “shaping” comes from Middle English. From Middle English schapynge, formed from shape plus the suffix -ing.
Is “shaping” a common word?
“Shaping” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shaping” have?
“Shaping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of giving something form, direction, or structure.
What is the difference between 'shaping' and 'forming'?
Both describe giving something structure, but 'shaping' more often emphasizes refining or adjusting an existing form or direction, while 'forming' can imply creating something from nothing. In practice the two overlap closely in everyday use.
What does 'shaping' mean in psychology?
In psychology, shaping is a method of gradually training a behavior by reinforcing small steps that move progressively closer to the desired final behavior, rather than expecting the full behavior at once.
How is 'shaping' used outside of physical objects?
Beyond physical objects, 'shaping' is used to describe giving direction or structure to abstract things, such as 'shaping public opinion' or 'shaping a career,' referring to influence over how something develops.
