A method, comprising: receiving a user definition of a memory shape (260, 362, 464-1, 464-2, 464-3, 564-1, 564-2, 564-3, 666-1, 666-2, 666-3) including: a quantity of contiguous columns of a memory array ; a quantity of contiguous rows of the memory array; and a major dimension (261, 363, 461-1, 461-2, 461-3, 561-1, 561-2, 561-3, 663-1, 663-2, 663-3) of the memory shape, wherein the major dimension: corresponds to a dimension by which to initially stride data stored in memory cells coupled to the contiguous columns and contiguous rows of the memory array, and is either a horizontal major dimension or a vertical major dimension; allocating a multidimensional, contiguous, physical portion of the memory array according to the user definition; storing only a first data element in a first column of memory cells or a first row of memory cells (244-1, 244-2, 244-3, 244-4, 244-5, 244-6, 444-1, 444-2, 444-3, 444-4, 444-5, 444-6, 444-7, 444-8, 444-9, 544-1, 544-2, 544-3, 544-4, 544-5, 544-6, 544-7, 544-8, 544-9) corresponding to the memory shape; and subsequently storing only a second data element in a second column of memory cells or a second row of memory cells (244-1, 244-2, 244-3, 244-4, 244-5, 244-6, 444-1, 444-2, 444-3, 444-4, 444-5, 444-6, 444-7, 444-8, 444-9, 544-1, 544-2, 544-3, 544-4, 544-5, 544-6, 544-7, 544-8, 544-9) corresponding to the memory shape, wherein the first column of memory cells is adjacent to the second column of memory cells and the first row of memory cells is adjacent to the second row of memory cells. receiving a user definition of a memory shape (260, 362, 464-1, 464-2, 464-3, 564-1, 564-2, 564-3, 666-1, 666-2, 666-3) including: a quantity of contiguous columns of a memory array ; a quantity of contiguous rows of the memory array; and a major dimension (261, 363, 461-1, 461-2, 461-3, 561-1, 561-2, 561-3, 663-1, 663-2, 663-3) of the memory shape, wherein the major dimension: corresponds to a dimension by which to initially stride data stored in memory cells coupled to the contiguous columns and contiguous rows of the memory array, and is either a horizontal major dimension or a vertical major dimension; a quantity of contiguous columns of a memory array ; a quantity of contiguous rows of the memory array; and a major dimension (261, 363, 461-1, 461-2, 461-3, 561-1, 561-2, 561-3, 663-1, 663-2, 663-3) of the memory shape, wherein the major dimension: corresponds to a dimension by which to initially stride data stored in memory cells coupled to the contiguous columns and contiguous rows of the memory array, and is either a horizontal major dimension or a vertical major dimension; corresponds to a dimension by which to initially stride data stored in memory cells coupled to the contiguous columns and contiguous rows of the memory array, and is either a horizontal major dimension or a vertical major dimension; allocating a multidimensional, contiguous, physical portion of the memory array according to the user definition; storing only a first data element in a first column of memory cells or a first row of memory cells (244-1, 244-2, 244-3, 244-4, 244-5, 244-6, 444-1, 444-2, 444-3, 444-4, 444-5, 444-6, 444-7, 444-8, 444-9, 544-1, 544-2, 544-3, 544-4, 544-5, 544-6, 544-7, 544-8, 544-9) corresponding to the memory shape; and subsequently storing only a second data element in a second column of memory cells or a second row of memory cells (244-1, 244-2, 244-3, 244-4, 244-5, 244-6, 444-1, 444-2, 444-3, 444-4, 444-5, 444-6, 444-7, 444-8, 444-9, 544-1, 544-2, 544-3, 544-4, 544-5, 544-6, 544-7, 544-8, 544-9) corresponding to the memory shape, wherein the first column of memory cells is adjacent to the second column of memory cells and the first row of memory cells is adjacent to the second row of memory cells. <EOS>