take shape

verb

develop into a distinctive entity (Freq. 5)

-

our plans began to take shape

• Syn: ↑form, ↑take form, ↑spring

• Derivationally related forms: ↑formation (for: ↑form)

• Hypernyms: ↑become

• Hyponyms: ↑regenerate

• Verb Frames:

-

Something ——s

-

Somebody ——s

-

Something is ——ing PP

-

Somebody ——s PP

* * *

BECOME CLEAR, become definite, become tangible, crystallize, come together, fall into place.

→ shape

* * *

phrasal

: to assume a definite or distinctive form

idea which was taking shape almost frightened him by its novelty — Marcia Davenport

vision of a railway network covering the whole country was beginning to take shape — O.S.Nock

our American universities … had not really taken shape much before 1910 — Harlan Hatcher

* * *

take shape

1. To assume a definite form or plan

2. To be embodied or worked out in practice

• • •

Main Entry: ↑shape

* * *

take shape phrase

to develop into something that can be recognized

The idea began to take shape about two years ago.

Thesaurus: to appear and appearance_synonym

Main entry: shape

* * *

assume a distinct form; develop into something definite or tangible

the past few months have seen the state's health insurance legislation begin to take shape

* * *

take ˈshape idiom

to develop and become more complete or organized

•

The garden is beginning to take shape.

•

A new song began to take shape in her mind.

Main entry: ↑shape_idiom