Sheaf | Definition of sheaf by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of SHEAF

1

: a quantity of the stalks and ears of a cereal grass or sometimes other plant material bound together

2

: something resembling a sheaf of grain <a sheaf of papers>

3

: a large amount or number

— sheaf·like \ˈshēf-ˌlīk\ adjective

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Middle English sheef, from Old English scēaf; akin to Old High German scoub sheaf, Russian chub forelock

First Known Use: before 12th century

Synonyms: abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, lashings (also lashins) [chiefly British], loads, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, myriad, oodles, pack, passel, peck, pile, plateful, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, pot, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, lot, shipload, sight, slew, spate, stack, store, ton, truckload, volume, wad, wealth, yard

Antonyms: ace, bit, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, handful, hint, lick, little, mite, mouthful, nip, ounce, peanuts, pinch, pittance, scruple, shade, shadow, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), speck, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, taste, touch, trace

1

: a bundle of stalks and ears of grain

2

: a group of things fastened together <a sheaf of papers>

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