sheer
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1sheer
verb \ˈshir\Definition of SHEER
intransitive verb
: to deviate from a course : swerve
transitive verb
: to cause to sheer
See Examples of SHEER
- <the cruise ship sheered to the northwest, putting it safely out of the path of the hurricane>
- <the car sheered to avoid hitting the dog>
Origin of SHEER
perhaps alteration of 1shear
First Known Use: 1539
Related to SHEER
Rhymes with SHEER
2sheer
nounDefinition 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
adjectiveDefinition 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
Examples of SHEER
- a sheer drop to the sea
- <we had to get window shades because passersby could see right through our sheer curtains>
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
See Synonym Discussion at steep
4sheer
adverbDefinition of SHEER
1
: in a complete manner : altogether
2
: straight up or down without a break : perpendicularly
Examples of SHEER
- mountains rising sheer from the plains
First Known Use of SHEER
1599
5sheer
nounDefinition of SHEER
: a sheer fabric; also : an article of such a fabric
First Known Use of SHEER
circa 1920
6sheer
nounDefinition 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
Learn More About SHEER
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: sheer batten
Previous Word in the Dictionary: sheepyard
All Words Near: sheer
Previous Word in the Dictionary: sheepyard
All Words Near: sheer
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up sheer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
