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Shape vs Command - What's the difference?

shape | command |

In transitive terms the difference between shape and command

is that shape is to give something a shape and definition while command is to hold, to control the use of.

In obsolete terms the difference between shape and command

is that shape is to imagine; to conceive while command is to direct to come; to bestow.

shape

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The status or condition of something
  • The used bookshop wouldn't offer much due to the poor shape of the book.
  • Condition of personal health, especially muscular health.
  • The vet checked to see what kind of shape the animal was in.
    We exercise to keep in good physical shape .
  • The appearance of something, especially its outline.
  • He cut a square shape out of the cake.
  • A figure with unspecified appearance; especially a geometric figure.
  • What shape shall we use for the cookies? Stars, circles, or diamonds?
  • Form; formation.
  • * 2006 , Berdj Kenadjian, Martin Zakarian, From Darkness to Light :
  • What if God's plans and actions do mold the shape of human events?
  • (iron manufacture) A rolled or hammered piece, such as a bar, beam, angle iron, etc., having a cross section different from merchant bar.
  • (iron manufacture) A piece which has been roughly forged nearly to the form it will receive when completely forged or fitted.
  • A mould for making jelly, blancmange etc., or a piece of such food formed moulded into a particular shape.
  • *1918 , (Rebecca West), The Return of the Soldier , Virago 2014, p. 74:
  • *:‘And if I'm late for supper there's a dish of macaroni cheese you must put in the oven and a tin of tomatoes to eat with it. And there's a little rhubarb and shape .’
  • Hyponyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * contest shape * * in no shape to * * in shape * out of shape * shapeless * shapely * shapesmith * shape-shifter * shape-shifting * shipshape * take shape * the shape of things to come * whip into shape

    See also

    *

    Verb

  • To give something a shape and definition.
  • * 1932 , The American Scholar , page 227, United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa
  • The professor never pretended to the academic prerogative of forcing his students into his own channels of reasoning; he entered into and helped shape the discussion but above all he made his men learn to think for themselves and rely upon their own intellectual judgments.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-03, volume=408, issue=8847, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Revenge of the nerds , passage=Think of banking today and the image is of grey-suited men in towering skyscrapers. Its future, however, is being shaped in converted warehouses and funky offices in San Francisco, New York and London, where bright young things in jeans and T-shirts huddle around laptops, sipping lattes or munching on free food.}}
  • To form or manipulate something into a certain shape.
  • * Prior
  • Grace shaped her limbs, and beauty decked her face.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2010, date=December 29, author=Mark Vesty, work=BBC
  • , title= Wigan 2-2 Arsenal , passage=Bendtner's goal-bound shot was well saved by goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi but fell to Arsahvin on the edge of the area and the Russian swivelled, shaped his body and angled a sumptuous volley into the corner. }}
  • (of a country, person, etc) To give influence to.
  • To suit; to be adjusted or conformable.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To imagine; to conceive.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Oft my jealousy / Shapes faults that are not.

    Synonyms

    * (give shape) form, mold

    Derived terms

    * beshape * foreshape * forshape * misshape * overshape * shape up

    Anagrams

    * * * 1000 English basic words

    command

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An order to do something.
  • I was given a command to cease shooting.
  • The right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.
  • to have command of an army
  • power of control, direction or disposal; mastery.
  • he had command of the situation
    England has long held command of the sea
    a good command of language
  • A position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control.
  • General Smith was placed in command .
  • The act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.
  • Command cannot be otherwise than savage, for it implies an appeal to force, should force be needful.'' (''H. Spencer , Social Statics, p. 180)
  • (military) A body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.
  • * 1899 ,
  • I asked myself what I was to do there, now my boat was lost. As a matter of fact, I had plenty to do in fishing my command out of the river.
  • Dominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
  • (computing) A directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
  • (baseball) The degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.
  • He's got good command tonight.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To order, give orders; to compel or direct with authority.
  • The soldier was commanded to cease firing.
    The king commanded his servant to bring him dinner.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • We are commanded' to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are ' commanded to forgive our friends.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Go to your mistress: / Say, I command her come to me.
  • To have or exercise supreme power, control or authority over, especially military; to have under direction or control.
  • to command an army or a ship
  • * Macaulay
  • Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Such aid as I can spare you shall command .
  • To require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.
  • he commanded silence
    If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Mat. IV. 3.)
  • * 2013 , Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier League keeps importing'' (in ''The Guardian , 20 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/19/english-talent-premier-league-importing]
  • The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command radically inflated transfer fees.
  • to dominate through ability, resources, position etc.; to overlook.
  • Bridges commanded by a fortified house. (Motley.)
  • To exact, compel or secure by influence; to deserve, claim.
  • A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the people.
    Justice commands the respect and affections of the people.
    The best goods command the best price.
    This job commands a salary of £30,000.
  • To hold, to control the use of.
  • The fort commanded the bay.
  • * Motley
  • bridges commanded by a fortified house
  • * Shakespeare
  • Up to the eastern tower, / Whose height commands as subject all the vale.
  • * Addison
  • One side commands a view of the finest garden.
  • (archaic) To have a view, as from a superior position.
  • * Milton
  • Far and wide his eye commands .
  • (obsolete) To direct to come; to bestow.
  • * Bible, Leviticus xxv. 21
  • I will command my blessing upon you.

    Synonyms

    * (give an order) decree, order

    Derived terms

    * chain of command * commandable * command economy * commandeer * commander * commandery * command guidance * commanding * command key * command language * command line * commandment * command module * command performance * command post * high command * second in command * self-command * trains command * your wish is my command

    References

    * *

    Statistics

    * English control verbs