shred

[ shred ]
/ ʃrɛd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR shred ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a piece cut or torn off, especially in a narrow strip.
a bit; scrap: We haven't got a shred of evidence.

verb (used with object), shred·ded or shred, shred·ding.

to cut or tear into small pieces, especially small strips; reduce to shreds.

verb (used without object), shred·ded or shred, shred·ding.

to be cut up, torn, etc.: The blouse had shredded.

Origin of shred

before 1000; (noun) Middle English schrede, Old English scrēade; cognate with Old Norse skrjōthr worn-out book, German Schrot chips; (v.) Middle English schreden, Old English scrēadian to pare, trim; akin to shroud; cf. screed

OTHER WORDS FROM shred

shred·less, adjective shred·like, adjective un·shred·ded, adjective

Words nearby shred

shr., shraddha, shrank, shrapnel, shreadhead, shred, shredded wheat, shredder, shredding, shreveport, shrew

Words related to shred

speck, fragment, snippet, modicum, whit, smidgen, iota, sliver, ounce, tear, shave, rag, jot, stitch, trace, scintilla, particle, part, grain, shadow

Example sentences from the Web for shred

British Dictionary definitions for shred

shred
/ (ʃrɛd) /

noun

a long narrow strip or fragment torn or cut off
a very small piece or amount; scrap

verb shreds, shredding, shredded or shred

(tr) to tear or cut into shreds

Derived forms of shred

shredder, noun

Word Origin for shred

Old English scread; related to Old Norse skrjōthr torn-up book, Old High German scrōt cut-off piece; see scroll, shroud, screed