sheep
[ sheep ]
/ ʃip /
noun, plural sheep.
any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats, especially O. aries, bred in a number of domesticated varieties.
leather made from the skin of these animals.
a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person.
Idioms for sheep
separate the sheep from the goats,
to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.
Origin of sheep
before 900; Middle English; Old English (north)
scēp; cognate with Dutch
schaap, German
Schaf
OTHER WORDS FROM sheep
sheep·less, adjective sheep·like, adjectiveWords nearby sheep
sheen,
sheena,
sheene,
sheeney,
sheeny,
sheep,
sheep fescue,
sheep laurel,
sheep measles,
sheep race,
sheep sorrel
Example sentences from the Web for sheep
British Dictionary definitions for sheep (1 of 2)
sheep
/ (ʃiːp) /
noun plural sheep
any of various bovid mammals of the genus Ovis and related genera, esp O. aries (domestic sheep), having transversely ribbed horns and a narrow face. There are many breeds of domestic sheep, raised for their wool and for meat
Related adjective: ovine
Barbary sheep another name for aoudad
a meek or timid person, esp one without initiative
separate the sheep from the goats
to pick out the members of any group who are superior in some respects
Derived forms of sheep
sheeplike, adjectiveWord Origin for sheep
Old English
sceap; related to Old Frisian
skēp, Old Saxon
scāp, Old High German
scāf
British Dictionary definitions for sheep (2 of 2)
SHEEP
abbreviation for
Sky High Earnings Expectations Possibly: applied to investments that appear to offer high returns but may be unreliable
Idioms and Phrases with sheep
sheep
see black sheep; hanged for a sheep; separate the sheep from the goats; wolf in sheep's clothing.