How to know if a geometric figure works

Geometric shapes help you work if you dont know what that thing is. lets say that the washing mashine is what i dont know. but i look at the shape, and the shape is the only thing i need to know.Then i founded out that it was a washing machine. people use shapes everywhere. they were here since the beginning of earth. the word shape came at 1800. from germanic, to old english. there 2 kind of shape in old english: gesceap and sceppan. Hope it helps!