sheaves

1
[ sheevz ]
/ ʃivz /

noun

plural of sheaf.

Definition for sheaves (2 of 5)

sheaves 2
[ shivz, sheevz ]
/ ʃɪvz, ʃivz /

noun

plural of sheave2.

Definition for sheaves (3 of 5)

sheaf
[ sheef ]
/ ʃif /

noun, plural sheaves.

one of the bundles in which cereal plants, as wheat, rye, etc., are bound after reaping.
any bundle, cluster, or collection: a sheaf of papers.

verb (used with object)

to bind (something) into a sheaf or sheaves.

Origin of sheaf

before 900; Middle English shefe (noun), Old English schēaf; cognate with Dutch schoof sheaf, German Schaub wisp of straw, Old Norse skauf tail of a fox

OTHER WORDS FROM sheaf

sheaf·like, adjective

Definition for sheaves (4 of 5)

sheave 1
[ sheev ]
/ ʃiv /

verb (used with object), sheaved, sheav·ing.

to gather, collect, or bind into a sheaf or sheaves.

Origin of sheave

1
First recorded in 1570–80; derivative of sheaf

Definition for sheaves (5 of 5)

sheave 2
[ shiv, sheev ]
/ ʃɪv, ʃiv /

noun

a pulley for hoisting or hauling, having a grooved rim for retaining a wire rope.
a wheel with a grooved rim, for transmitting force to a cable or belt.

Origin of sheave

2
1300–50; Middle English schive; akin to Dutch schijf sheave, German Scheibe disk

Example sentences from the Web for sheaves

British Dictionary definitions for sheaves (1 of 4)

sheaves
/ (ʃiːvz) /

noun

the plural of sheaf

British Dictionary definitions for sheaves (2 of 4)

sheave 1
/ (ʃiːv) /

verb

(tr) to gather or bind into sheaves

British Dictionary definitions for sheaves (3 of 4)

sheave 2
/ (ʃiːv) /

noun

a wheel with a grooved rim, esp one used as a pulley

Word Origin for sheave

C14: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scība disc

British Dictionary definitions for sheaves (4 of 4)

sheaf
/ (ʃiːf) /

noun plural sheaves (ʃiːvz)

a bundle of reaped but unthreshed corn tied with one or two bonds
a bundle of objects tied together
the arrows contained in a quiver

verb

(tr) to bind or tie into a sheaf

Word Origin for sheaf

Old English sceaf, related to Old High German skoub sheaf, Old Norse skauf tail, Gothic skuft tuft of hair