SHEER
Dictionary entry overview: What does sheer mean?
• 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.
Dictionary entry details
• 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
