sheaf

[ sheef ]

noun

plural sheaves.

1. one of the bundles in which cereal plants, as wheat, rye, etc., are bound after reaping.
2. any bundle, cluster, or collection:

   a sheaf of papers.

verb (used with object)

1. to bind (something) into a sheaf or sheaves.

sheaf

/ ʃiːf /

noun

1. a bundle of reaped but unthreshed corn tied with one or two bonds
2. a bundle of objects tied together
3. the arrows contained in a quiver

verb

1. tr to bind or tie into a sheaf

Other Word Forms

• sheaflike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheaf¹

before 900; Middle English shefe (noun), Old English schēaf; cognate with Dutch schoof sheaf, German Schaub wisp of straw, Old Norse skauf tail of a fox

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheaf¹

Old English sceaf, related to Old High German skoub sheaf, Old Norse skauf tail, Gothic skuft tuft of hair

Example Sentences

A sheaf of proposals to raise costs for Obamacare enrollees comes under the anodyne heading, “Reimagining the Affordable Care Act.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yehorov, pulling a sheaf of stage notes from his pocket, dropped a container of toothpicks that hit the floor and scattered everywhere.

From Los Angeles Times

The long edge of each new 130-page sheaf was dipped into a pool of melting glue, then dropped into a U-shaped cover.

From New York Times

The piled sheaf of papers from his confession resembles a manuscript.

From Salon

“This is not about me,” he said, handing me the sheaf.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• assemblage
• assortment
• band
• batch
• bevy
• bundle
• chunk
• cluster
• crew
• crowd
• flock
• gang
• group
• lot
• mess
• mob
• multitude
• number
• pack
• pile