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sheer1 definition

sheer (s̸hir)

intransitive verb

to turn aside sharply from a course; swerve

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

transitive verb

to cause to sheer

noun

  1. a sudden change of course; abrupt turn; swerve
  2. the oblique heading or position of a ship riding at a single bow anchor
  3. the upward curve of a ship's deck toward the bow and stern, as seen from the side
sheer2 definition

sheer (s̸hir)

adjective

  1. very thin; transparent; diaphanous: said of textiles
  2. not mixed or mingled with anything else; pure sheer ice
  3. absolute; downright; unqualified; utter sheer persistence
  4. perpendicular or extremely steep, as the face of a cliff

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

adverb

  1. completely; utterly; outright
  2. perpendicularly or very steeply

noun

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

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sheer Synonyms

sheer

modif.

  1. Abrupt

    steep, very steep, precipitous; see abrupt 1.

  2. Thin

    transparent, diaphanous, delicate, fine, smooth, pure, lucid, translucent, gauzy, pellucid, limpid, soft, fragile, flimsy, slight, clear, lacy.

  3. Absolute

    utter, altogether, quite; see absolute 1. See syn. study at abrupt.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

sheer Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Close behind it the formidable rocky face of Liathach rises almost sheer to its summit ridge.

Modifies a noun

  • brilliance: A single episode, 45 minutes of sheer brilliance.

Used with adjective complement

  • rise: Close behind it the formidable rocky face of Liathach rises almost sheer to its summit ridge.
sheer usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"sheer." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/sheer>

APA Style

sheer. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/sheer

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