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.

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Origin of shed

First recorded in 1475–85; variant of shade

OTHER WORDS FROM shed

shedlike, adjective

Words nearby shed

She Chi, Shechina, Shechinah, shechita, she-crab soup, shed, shed blood, shedder, shed dormer, she-devil, shedful

Other definitions for shed (2 of 3)

shed²

[ shed ]

/ ʃɛd /

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

to pour forth (water or other liquid), as a fountain.

to emit and let fall, as tears.

to impart or release; give or send forth (light, sound, fragrance, influence, etc.).

to resist being penetrated or affected by: cloth that sheds water.

to cast off or let fall (leaves, hair, feathers, skin, shell, etc.) by natural process.

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

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

to fall off, as leaves.

to drop out, as hair, seed, grain, etc.

to cast off hair, feathers, skin, or other covering or parts by natural process.

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 pick.

OTHER WORDS FOR shed

3 emit, radiate, effuse.

4 repel.

9 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. 2022

How to use shed in a sentence

I found some paper and sketched out a crude design—shed style, a simple two-by-four frame, with a top layer of corrugated tin.
I Missed Bars. So I Built One in My Own Backyard.|Nick Heil|October 16, 2020|Outside Online
Outdoor tool sheds can be a real game changer for the busy homeowner.
The best outdoor tool sheds for all of your storage needs|PopSci Commerce Team|October 14, 2020|Popular-Science
Homes there might be unstable sheds made of sheet-metal and plywood.
A dirty and growing problem: Too few toilets|Stephanie Parker|September 24, 2020|Science News For Students
Headquarters is a cluster of large hangar-like sheds, surrounded by woods, several kilometers off the beaten track.
The Fungal Evangelist Who Would Save the Bees - Issue 90: Something Green|Merlin Sheldrake|September 23, 2020|Nautilus

From a spare bedroom and a nook under the stairs, to a backyard shed or a repurposed dining table, the millions around the world who are new to working remotely are having to reassess their living quarters to make room for a viable work surface.
A peek inside home offices around the world|Anne Quito|September 20, 2020|Quartz
“I sense that mobile games are starting to shed their skin, getting rid of all the dead things they carry around,” he says.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When I first arrived at Duke, hooking up with a stranger seemed like a way to shed my inhibitions.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Overnight people shed their fears, their protective camouflage and their restraints.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both priceless papyri that could shed light on early Christianity and forgeries are openly trafficked online.
Dismembering History: The Shady Online Trade in Ancient Texts|Candida Moss|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While the bats are infected, they shed large quantities of virus that can infect other animals.
Bats’ Link to Ebola Finally Solved|Carrie Arnold|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A little corral for the sheep, and a rough shed for the pony, and the home was complete: far the prettiest home they had ever had.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Above, great standard electric lamps shed their white glare upon the eddying throng casting a myriad of grotesque shadows.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Then waves of grief broke over her, and she sobbed convulsively; but still she shed no tears.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Even the Grass-land is often ridged so as to shed the water quickly, while deep ditches or drains do duty for fences.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Robert was out there under the shed, reclining in the shade against the sloping keel of the overturned boat.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

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

Words nearby 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

How to use shed in a sentence

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)