sheer

The definition of sheer is to make a sudden and sharp turn.

(verb)

An example of sheer is turning your car sharply in order to keep from hitting a deer in the road.

The definition of sheer is a quick and sudden turn.

(noun)

An example of a sheer is a bicycle rider making an unexpected turn.

Sheer is defined as a very thin, or extremely steep.

(adjective)

An example of sheer is the veil covering the face of a bride on her wedding day.
An example of sheer is the front of a cliff that goes straight up and down.

See sheer in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to turn aside sharply from a course; swerve

Origin: var. of shear, prob. infl. by Du or LowG scheren, to cut, deviate, warp away

transitive verb

to cause to sheer

noun

a sudden change of course; abrupt turn; swerve
the oblique heading or position of a ship riding at a single bow anchor
the upward curve of a ship's deck toward the bow and stern, as seen from the side

adjective

Origin: ME schere, prob. var. of scere, free, exempt < ON skærr, bright, clear, akin to Ger schier: for IE base see shine

adverb

noun

thin, fine material, or a curtain, etc. made of it

Related Forms:

See sheer in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intr. & tr.v. sheered, sheer·ing, sheers

To swerve or cause to swerve from a course.

noun

A swerving or deviating course.
Nautical
a. The upward curve or amount of upward curve of the longitudinal lines of a ship's hull as viewed from the side.
b. The position in which a ship at anchor is maintained in order to keep it clear of the anchor.

Origin:

Origin: Probably partly from Low German scheren, to move to and fro (said of boats)

Origin: , and partly from Dutch scheren, to withdraw; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots

adjective sheer·er, sheer·est

Thin, fine, and transparent: sheer curtains; sheer chiffon. See Synonyms at airy.
a. Completely such, without qualification or exception: sheer stupidity; sheer happiness.
b. Free from admixture or adulterants; unmixed: sheer alcohol. See Synonyms at pure.
c. Considered or operating apart from anything else: got the job through sheer persistence.
Almost perpendicular; steep: sheer rock cliffs. See Synonyms at steep¹.