shaping

Meanings

Noun

• The action of the verb to shape.
• A method of positive reinforcement of behaviour patterns in a series of steps in operant conditioning.

Verb

• Present participle of shape

Origin

• From Middle English schapynge, equivalent to shape + -ing.
• From Middle English shapinge, shapende, schapende, schappande, from Old English sċyppende, sċeppende, from Proto-West Germanic *skappjandī, from Proto-Germanic *skapjandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *skapjaną, equivalent to shape + -ing.