SHEER

Pronunciation (US):

• SHEER (adjective)
  The adjective SHEER has 4 senses:

1. complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
2. not mixed with extraneous elements
3. very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
4. so thin as to transmit light

  Familiarity information: SHEER used as an adjective is uncommon.

• SHEER (verb)
  The verb SHEER has 2 senses:

1. turn sharply; change direction abruptly
2. cause to sheer

  Familiarity information: SHEER used as a verb is rare.

• SHEER (adverb)
  The adverb SHEER has 2 senses:

1. straight up or down without a break
2. directly

  Familiarity information: SHEER used as an adverb is rare.

• SHEER (adjective)

Meaning:

Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

Synonyms:

sheer; right-down; out-and-out; downright; absolute; rank

Context examples:

absolute freedom / an absolute dimwit / a downright lie / out-and-out mayhem / an out-and-out lie / a rank outsider / many right-down vices / got the job through sheer persistence / sheer stupidity

Similar:

complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)

Meaning:

Not mixed with extraneous elements

Synonyms:

unmixed; unmingled; sheer; plain

Context examples:

plain water / sheer wine / not an unmixed blessing

Similar:

pure (free of extraneous elements of any kind)

Meaning:

Very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front

Synonyms:

bluff; bold; sheer

Context examples:

a bluff headland / where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise / a sheer descent of rock

Similar:

steep (having a sharp inclination)

Meaning:

So thin as to transmit light

Synonyms:

vapourous; vaporous; see-through; gauzy; gauze-like; cobwebby; diaphanous; filmy; transparent; gossamer; sheer

Context examples:

a hat with a diaphanous veil / filmy wings of a moth / gauzy clouds of dandelion down / gossamer cobwebs / sheer silk stockings / transparent chiffon / vaporous silks

Similar:

thin (of relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite or in cross section)

• SHEER (verb)

Meaning:

Turn sharply; change direction abruptly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

veer; trend; swerve; slue; slew; sheer; curve; cut

Context examples:

The car cut to the left at the intersection / The motorbike veered to the right

Hypernyms (to "sheer" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sheer"):

peel off (leave a formation)

yaw (swerve off course momentarily)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Meaning:

Cause to sheer

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

She sheered her car around the obstacle

Hypernyms (to "sheer" is one way to...):

channelise; channelize; direct; guide; head; maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre; point; steer (direct the course; determine the direction of travelling)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

• SHEER (adverb)

Meaning:

Straight up or down without a break

Synonyms:

perpendicularly; sheer

Meaning:

Directly

Context example:

he fell sheer into the water