First Known Use: 1539
Dictionary
1sheer
verb \ˈshir\
: to turn suddenly
Full Definition of SHEER
intransitive verb
: to deviate from a course : swerve
transitive verb
: to cause to sheer
See sheer defined for English-language learners
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Origin of SHEER
perhaps alteration of 1shear
Related to SHEER
Rhymes with SHEER
2sheer
noun
Definition of SHEER
1
: a turn, deviation, or change in a course (as of a ship)
2
: the position of a ship riding to a single anchor and heading toward it
First Known Use of SHEER
1670
3sheer
adjective
—used to emphasize the large amount, size, or degree of something
: complete and total
: very steep : almost straight up and down
Full Definition of SHEER
2
: of very thin or transparent texture : diaphanous
3
a : unqualified, utter <sheer folly> <sheer ignorance> b : being free from an adulterant : pure, unmixed c : viewed or acting in dissociation from all else <in terms of sheer numbers>
4
: marked by great and continuous steepness
— sheer·ly adverb
— sheer·ness noun
See sheer defined for English-language learners
See sheer defined for kids
Origin of SHEER
Middle English schere freed from guilt, probably alteration of skere, from Old Norse skærr pure; akin to Old English scīnan to shine
First Known Use: circa 1568
Related to SHEER
- Synonyms
- cobwebby, diaphanous, filmy, gauzelike, gauzy, gossamer, gossamery, see-through, transparent
- Antonyms
- easy
Synonym Discussion of SHEER
steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult <a steep hill> <a steep dive>. abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level <a beach with an abrupt drop-off>. precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical <the river winds through a precipitous gorge>. sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse <sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers>.
4sheer
adverb
: straight up or down
Full Definition of SHEER
1
: in a complete manner : altogether
2
: straight up or down without a break : perpendicularly
See sheer defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SHEER
1599
5sheer
noun
Definition of SHEER
: a sheer fabric; also : an article of such a fabric
First Known Use of SHEER
circa 1920
6sheer
noun
Definition of SHEER
: the fore-and-aft curvature from bow to stern of a ship's deck as shown in side elevation
Origin of SHEER
perhaps alteration of 2shear
First Known Use: 1691
SHEERLY Defined for Kids
sheer
adjective \ˈshir\
sheer·ersheer·est
Definition of SHEER for Kids
1
: very thin or transparent <sheer curtains>
2
: complete and total : absolute <sheer nonsense>
3
: taken or acting apart from everything else <He won through sheer determination.>
4
: very steep <a sheer cliff>
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