Dictionary

sheer en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ʃɪː/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ʃiɹ/ (Scotland)
• /ʃɪə̯/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ʃiə̯/ (New-Zealand)
• /ʃiɾ/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /ʃɛː/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
• (Australia) audio
• /ʃɪɚ/ (US)
• /ˈʃɪj.ə/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

From Middle English shere, scheere, schere, skere, from Old English sċǣre (“pure, sheer; shining, clear”), from Proto-Germanic *skairiz; supplanted the semantically close shire (dialectal), from Middle English schyre, schire, shire, shir, from Old English sċīr (“clear, bright; brilliant, gleaming, shining, splendid, resplendent; pure”), beside which existed Middle English skyr, from Old Norse skírr (“pure, bright, clear”), both from Proto-Germanic *skīriz (“pure, sheer”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₁y- (“luster, gloss, shadow”). Cognate with Danish skær, German schier (“sheer”), German Low German schier (“sheer, pure, unadulterated”; “completely, almost”), Dutch schier (“almost”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍂𐍃 (skeirs, “clear, lucid”). Outside Germanic, cognate to Albanian hir (“grace, beauty; goodwill”).

Meanings

1. Very thin or transparent.
   • Her light, sheer dress caught everyone’s attention.
   • “She sheathed her legs in the sheerest of the nylons that her father had brought back from the Continent, and slipped her feet into the toeless, high-heeled shoes of black suède.” 1954, Alexander Alderson, chapter 17, in The Subtle Minotaur:
   • She was cunningly dressed in a black, sheer gown with gold ornaments showing her figure to perfection. 1966, James Workman, The Mad Emperor, Melbourne, Sydney: Scripts, page 53:
2. (obsolete) Pure in composition; unmixed; unadulterated.
   • Thou sheer, immaculate and silver fountain, / From when this stream through muddy passages / Hath held his current and defiled himself! 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
   • If she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, score me up for the lying’st knave in Christendom. c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act INTRODUCTION, scene ii]:
3. (broadly) Downright; complete; pure.
   • That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • This poem is sheer nonsense.
   • I think it is sheer genius to invent such a thing.
   • There is no organized movement of gays or feminists that would support individuals and that would make coming out, at the workplace, anything less than a shear ^([sic]) act of suicide. 1981 December 19, Nancy Wechsler, Christine Delphy, “Politics In France”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 22, page 9:
   • Cycling's complex etiquette contains an unwritten rule that riders in contention for a race win should not be penalised for sheer misfortune. 2012 July 15, Richard Williams, “Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track”, in The Guardian:
4. Used to emphasize the amount or degree of something.
   • Dr. Frank Hoffman, a gynecologist and founder of the program, says he was appalled by the sheer numbers of cases of early-stage breast cancer that were being missed, not just in Germany but around the world. 2024 September 8, Kamala Thiagarajan, “Women who are blind play a critical role in identifying possible breast cancers”, in NPR:
   • The army's sheer size made it impossible to resist.
   • Perhaps as startling as the sheer toll was the devastation to some of the state’s well-known locales. Boardwalks along the beach in Seaside Heights, Belmar and other towns on the Jersey Shore were blown away. Amusement parks, arcades and restaurants all but vanished. Bridges to barrier islands buckled, preventing residents from even inspecting the damage to their property. 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, “New Jersey Reels From Storm's Thrashing”, in New York Times, retrieved 20 Sep 2021:
5. Very steep; almost vertical or perpendicular.
   • It was a sheer drop of 180 feet.

Forms

Antonyms

opaque

Deriveds

supersheer · sheerness · sheerly · semisheer · sheerish · sheer-to-waist · ultrasheer

Hypernyms

translucent · thin

Relateds

total · transparent · slope

Synonyms

sheer · frightful · pure · unreserved · filmy · unmitigated · clean · full-bore · mere · see-through · abject · pure · unalloyed · out-and-out · outright · sheer · arrant · full-on · unrestricted · diaphanous · perfect · unattenuated · prize · categoric · wholesale · stark · absolute · total · steep · diaphanous · uncompromising · gossamer · see-through · undiluted · utter · full-blown · pure · vertical · thorough · downright · decided · unqualified · complete · full · rank · unmitigated · root and branch · utter · perpendicular · downright · regular · thoroughgoing · unconditional · unadulterated · straight-out · categorical · precious · proper · unfettered · gauzy · right · consummate · thin

Translations (108)

es fino (very thin or transparent) · uk прозо́рий (very thin or transparent) · it vero e proprio (downright; complete) · nb bratt (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · de bloß ((used to emphasize)) · bg абсолютен (downright; complete) · sv skir (very thin or transparent) · pl czysty (downright; complete) · fr diaphane (very thin or transparent) · fi läpinäkyvä (very thin or transparent) · fi pelkkä ((used to emphasize)) · bg вертикален (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · ru прозра́чный (very thin or transparent) · ja 透明な (very thin or transparent) · lv stāvs (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · hu áttetsző (very thin or transparent) · pl urwisty (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · fi pelkkä (downright; complete) · osx skir (very thin or transparent) · nl flinterdun (very thin or transparent) · bg пълен (downright; complete) · de schier ((used to emphasize)) · la merus (downright; complete) · cmn 峻峭 (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · uk перпендикуля́рний (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · es vertical (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · ru чи́стый ((used to emphasize)) · es puro (downright; complete) · fi äkkijyrkkä (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · nl steil (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · uk спра́вжній ((used to emphasize)) · ru вертика́льный (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · sk priesvitný (very thin or transparent) · nb vertikal (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · nb rett (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · uk вертика́льний (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · de transparent (very thin or transparent) · grc ἠλίβατος (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · uk чи́стий (downright; complete) · sh proziran (very thin or transparent) · es escarpado (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · da ren og skær (downright; complete) · ga mín (very thin or transparent) · lv pilnīgs (downright; complete) · fr total (downright; complete) · sk číry (very thin or transparent) · es transparente (very thin or transparent) · de hauchdünn (very thin or transparent) · es tremendo (downright; complete) · mi mote (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · de senkrecht (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · es mero (downright; complete) · uk чи́стий ((used to emphasize)) · pl przezroczysty (very thin or transparent) · ru чи́стый (downright; complete) · fi suora (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · uk по́вний (downright; complete) · ru су́щий ((used to emphasize)) · pt direto (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · fr transparent (very thin or transparent) · ru отве́сный (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · ar شَفَّاف (very thin or transparent) · bg прозрачен (very thin or transparent) · fi harsomainen (very thin or transparent) · fr abrupt (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · de durchsichtig (very thin or transparent) · uk і́стиний ((used to emphasize)) · tr ince (very thin or transparent) · fi silkka (downright; complete) · fr vertical (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · bg отвесен (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · cmn 透明 (very thin or transparent) · de steil (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · ru настоя́щий ((used to emphasize)) · es muy delgado (very thin or transparent) · nb gjennomskinnelig (very thin or transparent) · fr absolu (downright; complete) · sq tejdukshëm (very thin or transparent) · sv ren och skär (downright; complete) · de pur ((used to emphasize)) · es gran (downright; complete) · hu könnyű (very thin or transparent) · de vertikal (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · sh прозиран (very thin or transparent) · sv rena rama (downright; complete) · uk прямови́сний (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · es enorme (downright; complete) · fi seitinohut (very thin or transparent) · ru по́лный (downright; complete) · de rein ((used to emphasize)) · es grosso (downright; complete) · mi kaha (downright; complete) · fi pystysuora (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · mi taparere (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · ar شَدِيْد (downright; complete) · grc αἰπύς (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · pt fino (very thin or transparent) · nl recht (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · it mero ((used to emphasize)) · cmn 陡峭 (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular) · fr pur (downright; complete) · fi puhdas (downright; complete) · fi silkka ((used to emphasize)) · fi läpikuultava (very thin or transparent) · hu vékony (very thin or transparent) · bg тънък (very thin or transparent) · ja 純粋な (downright; complete) · es acantilado (straight up and down; vertical; perpendicular)

sheer en · ADV · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ʃɪː/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ʃiɹ/ (Scotland)
• /ʃɪə̯/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ʃiə̯/ (New-Zealand)
• /ʃiɾ/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /ʃɛː/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
• (Australia) audio
• /ʃɪɚ/ (US)
• /ˈʃɪj.ə/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

From Middle English shere, scheere, schere, skere, from Old English sċǣre (“pure, sheer; shining, clear”), from Proto-Germanic *skairiz; supplanted the semantically close shire (dialectal), from Middle English schyre, schire, shire, shir, from Old English sċīr (“clear, bright; brilliant, gleaming, shining, splendid, resplendent; pure”), beside which existed Middle English skyr, from Old Norse skírr (“pure, bright, clear”), both from Proto-Germanic *skīriz (“pure, sheer”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₁y- (“luster, gloss, shadow”). Cognate with Danish skær, German schier (“sheer”), German Low German schier (“sheer, pure, unadulterated”; “completely, almost”), Dutch schier (“almost”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍂𐍃 (skeirs, “clear, lucid”). Outside Germanic, cognate to Albanian hir (“grace, beauty; goodwill”).

Meanings

1. (archaic) Clean; completely; at once.
   • Descending , and in half cut sheer 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • Swift into the dark stream at once he fell, / As the red star at once falls swift and sheer / From sky to sea 1888, Francis Hastings Doyle, “Hylas”, in The Return of the Guards: And Other Poems, translation of original by Theocritus:
   • Hector the ashen lance of Ajax smote / With his broad faulchion, at the nether end, / And lopp’d it sheer. 1791, William Cowper, The Iliad of Homer, translation of original by Homer, Book XVI:

Forms

Translations (9)

fi aivan (quite) · fi oitis (at once) · fi tyystin (clean) · fi täysin (quite) · fi varsin (quite) · fi tykkänään (clean) · fi kerralla (at once) · fi vallan (clean) · fi täysin (clean)

sheer en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ʃɪː/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ʃiɹ/ (Scotland)
• /ʃɪə̯/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ʃiə̯/ (New-Zealand)
• /ʃiɾ/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /ʃɛː/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
• (Australia) audio
• /ʃɪɚ/ (US)
• /ˈʃɪj.ə/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

From Middle English shere, scheere, schere, skere, from Old English sċǣre (“pure, sheer; shining, clear”), from Proto-Germanic *skairiz; supplanted the semantically close shire (dialectal), from Middle English schyre, schire, shire, shir, from Old English sċīr (“clear, bright; brilliant, gleaming, shining, splendid, resplendent; pure”), beside which existed Middle English skyr, from Old Norse skírr (“pure, bright, clear”), both from Proto-Germanic *skīriz (“pure, sheer”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱeh₁y- (“luster, gloss, shadow”). Cognate with Danish skær, German schier (“sheer”), German Low German schier (“sheer, pure, unadulterated”; “completely, almost”), Dutch schier (“almost”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍂𐍃 (skeirs, “clear, lucid”). Outside Germanic, cognate to Albanian hir (“grace, beauty; goodwill”).

Meanings

1. A sheer curtain or fabric.
   • Lightweight, tightly woven silkies, sheers, lingerie 1992, Tammy Young, Naomi Baker, Serged Garments in Minutes, page 22:
   • Use sheers to maximize natural light.

Forms

Translations (5)

fi voile (a sheer curtain or fabric) · fi valoverho (a sheer curtain or fabric) · fi voilee (a sheer curtain or fabric) · fi valoverhokangas (a sheer curtain or fabric) · ca estor (a sheer curtain or fabric)

sheer en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ʃɪː/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ʃiɹ/ (Scotland)
• /ʃɪə̯/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ʃiə̯/ (New-Zealand)
• /ʃiɾ/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /ʃɛː/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
• (Australia) audio
• /ʃɪɚ/ (US)
• /ˈʃɪj.ə/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

Perhaps from Dutch scheren (“to move aside, skim”); see also shear.

Meanings

1. The curve of the main deck or gunwale from bow to stern.
2. An abrupt swerve from the course of a ship.

Forms

Deriveds

sheer hulk · break sheer · plank-sheer

Translations (8)

el καραβίζι (nautical: curve of main deck) · el λουνάδα (nautical: curve of main deck) · el σιμότητα (nautical: curve of main deck) · el βιάρισμα (nautical: curve of main deck) · he כְּפָף (nautical: curve of main deck) · bg отклонение от курса (nautical: abrupt swerve) · fi ketka (nautical: curve of main deck) · fi jiiraus (nautical: abrupt swerve)

sheer en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ʃɪː/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ʃiɹ/ (Scotland)
• /ʃɪə̯/ (Australia, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ʃiə̯/ (New-Zealand)
• /ʃiɾ/ (Scotland)
• (US) audio
• /ʃɛː/ East Anglia, cheer–chair merger
• (Australia) audio
• /ʃɪɚ/ (US)
• /ˈʃɪj.ə/ (British, Southern, Standard)

Etymology

Perhaps from Dutch scheren (“to move aside, skim”); see also shear.

Meanings

1. To swerve from a course.
   • I sheered her well inshore—the water being deepest near the bank, as the sounding–pole informed me. 1899 March, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number MI, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part II:
   • Seydlitz correctly identifies the larger shell splashes as coming from the two "large light cruisers" at the rear, and takes aim. Moments later, Courageous sheers out of line, smoke and steam venting through a massive hole in her side, the shells having blasted right through whatever excuse for armor was present and detonated amidst the boiler rooms. She is doomed. 2018 October 17, Drachinifel, 15:10 from the start, in Last Ride of the High Seas Fleet - Battle of Texel 1918, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2022:
2. (alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete spelling of shear.
   alt of shear
   • So thick, our navy scarce could sheer their way 1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):

Forms

Relateds

sheer khurma

Translations (7)

uk відхиля́тися від ку́рсу (nautical: swerve from course) · gv crogh (nautical: swerve from course) · fi poiketa kurssista (nautical: swerve from course) · he סוֹטֵט (nautical: swerve from course) · fi jiirata (nautical: swerve from course) · ru отклоня́ться от ку́рса (nautical: swerve from course) · bg отклонявам се от курса (nautical: swerve from course)