shed

[ shed ]

/ ʃɛd /

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See synonyms for: shed / shedding on Thesaurus.com

noun

a simple or rude structure built for shelter, storage, etc.

a large, strongly built structure, often open at the sides or end.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of shed

First recorded in 1475–85; variant of shade

OTHER WORDS FROM shed

shedlike, adjective

Other definitions for shed (2 of 3)

shed²

[ shed ]

/ ʃɛd /

verb (used with object), shed, shed·ding.

to emit and let fall, as tears:When someone arrived to rescue us, I shed tears of joy and gratitude.

to impart or release; give or send forth (light, sound, fragrance, influence, etc.): A full moon was shedding its light on the little town as they entered it.

to resist being penetrated or affected by: The jacket is treated with a durable water-repellent finish to shed light precipitation.

to cast off or let fall (leaves, hair, feathers, skin, shell, etc.) by natural process: A healthy, growing snake will shed its skin about once a month.

to get rid of or release oneself from: First, we must shed our illusions about what rural life is supposed to be like.I find that I go through phases where I shed some of my friendships.

to pour forth (water or other liquid), as a fountain or river: All of these rivers eventually shed their waters into the Luapula River.

Textiles. to separate (the warp) in forming a shed.

verb (used without object), shed, shed·ding.

to cast off hair, feathers, skin, or other covering or parts by natural process: All dogs shed, and need some grooming to brush out loose hair.

to fall off, as leaves: Leaves that are severely infected by this disease will shed prematurely.

to drop out, as hair, seed, grain, etc.: My hair began shedding during the first month after I started taking the medication.The seeds of this plant shed soon after the pod opens, so they’re hard to find.

noun

Textiles. (on a loom) a triangular, transverse opening created between raised and lowered warp threads through which the shuttle passes in depositing the loose thread that will become the weft.

OTHER WORDS FOR shed

2 emit, radiate, effuse.

3 repel.

8 molt, slough.

See synonyms for shed on Thesaurus.com

Origin of shed

First recorded before 950; Middle English verb shed(d)en, shed, Old English scēadan, scādan; cognate with German scheiden “to separate, divide”

OTHER WORDS FROM shed

shed·a·ble, shed·da·ble, adjectivenon·shed·ding, adjectiveun·shed·ding, adjective

Other definitions for shed (3 of 3)

she'd

[ sheed ]

/ ʃid /

contraction of she had.

contraction of she would.

usage note for she'd

See contraction.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for shed (1 of 5)

shed¹

/ (ʃɛd) /

noun

a small building or lean-to of light construction, used for storage, shelter, etc

a large roofed structure, esp one with open sides, used for storage, repairing locomotives, sheepshearing, etc

a large retail outlet in the style of a warehouse

NZ another name for freezing works

in the shed NZ at work

verb sheds, shedding or shedded

(tr) NZ to store (hay or wool) in a shed

Derived forms of shed

shedlike, adjective

Word Origin for shed

Old English sced; probably variant of scead shelter, shade

British Dictionary definitions for shed (2 of 5)

shed²

/ (ʃɛd) /

verb sheds, shedding or shed (mainly tr)

to pour forth or cause to pour forthto shed tears; shed blood

shed light on, shed light upon, throw light on or throw light upon to clarify or supply additional information about

to cast off or losethe snake shed its skin; trees shed their leaves

(of a lorry) to drop (its load) on the road by accident

to abolish or get rid of (jobs, workers, etc)

to repelthis coat sheds water

(also intr) (in weaving) to form an opening between (the warp threads) in order to permit the passage of the shuttle

(tr) dialect to make a parting in (the hair)

noun

(in weaving) the space made by shedding

short for watershed

mainly Scot a parting in the hair

Derived forms of shed

shedable or sheddable, adjective

Word Origin for shed

Old English sceadan; related to Gothic skaidan, Old High German skeidan to separate; see sheath

British Dictionary definitions for shed (3 of 5)

shed³

/ (ʃɛd) /

verb sheds, shedding or shed

(tr) to separate or divide off (some farm animals) from the remainder of a groupa good dog can shed his sheep in a matter of minutes

noun

(of a dog) the action of separating farm animals

Derived forms of shed

shedding, noun

Word Origin for shed

from shed ²

British Dictionary definitions for shed (4 of 5)

shed⁴

/ (ʃɛd) /

noun

physics a former unit of nuclear cross section equal to 10 –52 square metre

Word Origin for shed

C20: from shed 1; so called by comparison to barn ² because of its smaller size

British Dictionary definitions for shed (5 of 5)

she'd

/ (ʃiːd) /

contraction of

she had or she would

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shed

Origin of shed

OTHER WORDS FROM shed

Other definitions for shed (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR shed

Origin of shed

OTHER WORDS FROM shed

Other definitions for shed (3 of 3)

usage note for she'd

Words related to shed

British Dictionary definitions for shed (1 of 5)

Derived forms of shed

Word Origin for shed

British Dictionary definitions for shed (2 of 5)

Derived forms of shed

Word Origin for shed

British Dictionary definitions for shed (3 of 5)

Derived forms of shed

Word Origin for shed

British Dictionary definitions for shed (4 of 5)

Word Origin for shed

British Dictionary definitions for shed (5 of 5)