diff --git a/main/Scene.h b/main/Scene.h
index 231b2d2..b039683 100644
--- a/main/Scene.h
+++ b/main/Scene.h
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class Scene
 
         /* private data */
         std::vector< refptr<Shape> > m_shapes;
+        std::vector< refptr<Shape> > m_shape_definitions;
         std::vector< refptr<Light> > m_lights;
         std::stack<Transform> m_transforms;
         double m_view_plane_dist;
diff --git a/parser/nodes.h b/parser/nodes.h
index 67d802c..eb61491 100644
--- a/parser/nodes.h
+++ b/parser/nodes.h
@@ -288,6 +288,18 @@ class SceneNode : public Node
 {
 };
 
+class ShapeDefinitionNode : public IdentifierNode
+{
+    public:
+        ShapeDefinitionNode(const std::string & str) : IdentifierNode(str) {}
+};
+
+class ShapeRefNode : public IdentifierNode
+{
+    public:
+        ShapeRefNode(const std::string & str) : IdentifierNode(str) {}
+};
+
 class ShininessNode : public NumberNode
 {
     public:
diff --git a/parser/parser.lex b/parser/parser.lex
index 0b7130a..8b7aa95 100644
--- a/parser/parser.lex
+++ b/parser/parser.lex
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ reflectance         return REFLECTANCE;
 rotate              return ROTATE;
 scale               return SCALE;
 scene               return SCENE;
+shape               return SHAPE;
 shininess           return SHININESS;
 size                return SIZE;
 specular            return SPECULAR;
diff --git a/parser/parser.yy b/parser/parser.yy
index 7c2414f..4eefaba 100644
--- a/parser/parser.yy
+++ b/parser/parser.yy
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ static refptr<Node> parsed_scene_node;
 %token ROTATE;
 %token SCALE;
 %token SCENE;
+%token SHAPE;
 %token SHININESS;
 %token SIZE;
 %token SPECULAR;
@@ -435,6 +436,7 @@ scene_item: camera { $$ = $1; }
           | light { $$ = $1; }
           | transform_block { $$ = $1; }
           | material_definition { $$ = $1; }
+          | shape_definition { $$ = $1; }
           ;
 
 shape: plane { $$ = $1; }
@@ -445,8 +447,18 @@ shape: plane { $$ = $1; }
      | intersect { $$ = $1; }
      | subtract { $$ = $1; }
      | extrude { $$ = $1; }
+     | shape_ref { $$ = $1; }
      ;
 
+shape_definition: DEFINE SHAPE IDENTIFIER shape {
+                    $$ = new ShapeDefinitionNode($3->getString());
+                    $$->addChild($4);
+                }
+                ;
+
+shape_ref: SHAPE IDENTIFIER { $$ = new ShapeRefNode($2->getString()); }
+         ;
+
 shape_item: material { $$ = $1; }
           | material_ref { $$ = $1; }
           | transform { $$ = $1; }
@@ -522,6 +534,7 @@ transform_block_items: /* empty */
 transform_block_item: transform_block { $$ = $1; }
                     | light { $$ = $1; }
                     | shape { $$ = $1; }
+                    | shape_definition { $$ = $1; }
                     ;
 
 union: UNION LCURLY bool_items RCURLY {