shaping
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: shapings
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The action of the verb to shape.
Noun
Examples
In contrast to the (to be sure, productive) shapings and constrainings of human identities in the sociotechnical network, here we have an expansion of identity.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The action of the verb to shape. — A method of positive reinforcement of behaviour patterns in a series of steps in operant conditioning.
Noun
Examples
In general, it's a good idea to know ahead of time what your shaping steps will be and try to get 80% to 100% correct trials during the shaping steps and repeat each step for only 5 to 10 trials in a row.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “shaping” mean?
The action of the verb to shape.
Is “shaping” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.