sheer

1
[ sheer ]
/ ʃɪər /

adjective, sheer·er, sheer·est.

adverb

clear; completely; quite: ran sheer into the thick of battle.
perpendicularly; vertically; down or up very steeply.

noun

a thin, diaphanous material, as chiffon or voile.

Origin of sheer

1
1175–1225; Middle English scere, shere, schere free, clear, bright, thin; probably < Old Norse skǣrr; change of sk- > s(c)h- perhaps by influence of the related Old English scīr (E dial. shire clear, pure, thin); cognate with German schier, Old Norse skīr, Gothic skeirs clear; see shine1

ANTONYMS FOR sheer

1 opaque.

OTHER WORDS FROM sheer

sheer·ly, adverb sheer·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sheer

shear sheer

Words nearby sheer

sheepshearing, sheepskin, sheepswool sponge, sheeptick, sheepwalk, sheer, sheer plan, sheerlegs, sheerness, sheers, sheesh

Words related to sheerest

outright, unadulterated, simple, unmitigated, pure, unalloyed, lacy, translucent, gauzy, chiffon, precipitate, erect, perfect, gross, complete, confounded, blessed, rank, single, total

Example sentences from the Web for sheerest

British Dictionary definitions for sheerest (1 of 2)

sheer 1
/ (ʃɪə) /

adjective

adverb

steeply or perpendicularly
completely or absolutely

noun

any transparent fabric used for making garments

Derived forms of sheer

sheerly, adverb sheerness, noun

Word Origin for sheer

Old English scīr; related to Old Norse skīrr bright, Gothic skeirs clear, Middle High German schīr

British Dictionary definitions for sheerest (2 of 2)

sheer 2
/ (ʃɪə) /

verb (foll by off or away ( from ))

to deviate or cause to deviate from a course
(intr) to avoid an unpleasant person, thing, topic, etc

noun

the upward sweep of the deck or bulwarks of a vessel
nautical the position of a vessel relative to its mooring

Word Origin for sheer

C17: perhaps variant of shear