sheep

American  

[sheep] / ʃip /

noun

PLURAL

sheep

1. any of numerous ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis, of the family Bovidae, closely related to the goats, especially O. aries, bred in a number of domesticated varieties.

2. leather made from the skin of these animals.

3. a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person.

---

idioms

1. separate the sheep from the goats,  to separate good people from bad or those intended for a specific end from unqualified people.

sheep ¹ British  

/ ʃiːp /

noun

1. any of various bovid mammals of the genus Ovis and related genera, esp O. aries ( domestic sheep ), having transversely ribbed horns and a narrow face. There are many breeds of domestic sheep, raised for their wool and for meat

2. another name for aoudad

3. a meek or timid person, esp one without initiative

4. to pick out the members of any group who are superior in some respects

---

SHEEP ² British  

abbreviation

1. Sky High Earnings Expectations Possibly: applied to investments that appear to offer high returns but may be unreliable

---

sheep More Idioms  

1. see black sheep; hanged for a sheep; separate the sheep from the goats; wolf in sheep's clothing.

---

Other Word Forms

• sheepless adjective
• sheeplike adjective

Etymology

Origin of sheep

before 900; Middle English; Old English (north) scēp; cognate with Dutch schaap, German Schaf

Example Sentences

Spread by midges, bluetongue poses no threat to the public or food safety but can affect cloven-hoofed animals like sheep and cattle.

From BBC

An eerie silence hangs over the place where 650 sheep were being raised.

From BBC

Greek farmers have sustained major losses from an infestation of sheep pox, and an EU investigation into widespread subsidy fraud that has delayed payments to legitimate claimants.

From Barron's

Spread by midges, bluetongue poses no threat to the public or food safety but can have serious consequences for cloven-hoofed animals like sheep and cattle.

From BBC

I’d wager a wolf would sooner recognize a sheep as one of its own than a grinning pug.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• darkness
• fog
• gloom
• mist
• puff
• smog
• smoke
• steam
• vapor
• veil