to take the form of (esp. in ref. to a spirit, fox, raccoon dog, etc.), to assume the shape of, to turn oneself into, to transform oneself into, to disguise oneself (as), to change (into), to transform, to metamorphose, to change radically (for the better), to improve dramatically and unexpectedly (e.g. of an actor, sportsperson, stock price), to make a complete turnaround