shed

¹

[ shed ]

noun

1. a simple or rude structure built for shelter, storage, etc.
2. a large, strongly built structure, often open at the sides or end.

shed

²

[ shed ]

verb (used with object)

, shed, shed·ding.

1. to emit and let fall, as tears:

   When someone arrived to rescue us, I shed tears of joy and gratitude.

2. 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.

   Synonyms: effuse, radiate, emit

3. to resist being penetrated or affected by:

   The jacket is treated with a durable water-repellent finish to shed light precipitation.

   Synonyms: repel

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

   All of these rivers eventually shed their waters into the Luapula River.

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

verb (used without object)

, shed, shed·ding.

1. 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.

   Synonyms: slough, molt

2. to fall off, as leaves:

   Leaves that are severely infected by this disease will shed prematurely.

3. 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

1. 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.

she'd

³

[ sheed ]

1. contraction of she had.
2. contraction of she would.

shed

¹

/ ʃɛd /

noun

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

shed

²

/ ʃɛd /

verb

1. tr to separate or divide off (some farm animals) from the remainder of a group

   a good dog can shed his sheep in a matter of minutes

noun

1. (of a dog) the action of separating farm animals

shed

³

/ ʃɛd /

noun

1. a small building or lean-to of light construction, used for storage, shelter, etc
2. a large roofed structure, esp one with open sides, used for storage, repairing locomotives, sheepshearing, etc
3. a large retail outlet in the style of a warehouse
4. See freezing works
   another name for freezing works
5. in the shed
   in the shed at work

verb

1. tr to store (hay or wool) in a shed

shed

⁴

/ ʃɛd /

verb

1. to pour forth or cause to pour forth

   to shed tears

   shed blood

2. shed light on
   shed light onshed light uponthrow light onthrow light upon to clarify or supply additional information about
3. to cast off or lose

   the snake shed its skin

   trees shed their leaves

4. (of a lorry) to drop (its load) on the road by accident
5. to abolish or get rid of (jobs, workers, etc)
6. to repel

   this coat sheds water

7. also intr (in weaving) to form an opening between (the warp threads) in order to permit the passage of the shuttle
8. dialect.
   tr to make a parting in (the hair)

noun

1. (in weaving) the space made by shedding
2. See watershed
   short for watershed
3. a parting in the hair

she'd

⁵

/ ʃiːd /

contraction of

1. she had or she would

Usage Note

See contraction.

Derived Forms

• ˈshedding, noun
• ˈshedˌlike, adjective
• ˈshedable, adjective

Other Words From

• shedlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shed¹

First recorded in 1475–85; variant of shade

Origin of shed²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shed¹

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

Origin of shed²

from shed ²

Origin of shed³

Old English sced; probably variant of scead shelter, shade

Origin of shed⁴

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. shed blood,
   1. to cause blood to flow.
   2. to kill by violence; slaughter.

Example Sentences

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.

From Outside Online

Outdoor tool sheds can be a real game changer for the busy homeowner.

From Popular-Science

Homes there might be unstable sheds made of sheet-metal and plywood.

From Science News For Students

Headquarters is a cluster of large hangar-like sheds, surrounded by woods, several kilometers off the beaten track.

From 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.

From Quartz

“I sense that mobile games are starting to shed their skin, getting rid of all the dead things they carry around,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

When I first arrived at Duke, hooking up with a stranger seemed like a way to shed my inhibitions.

From The Daily Beast

Overnight people shed their fears, their protective camouflage and their restraints.

From The Daily Beast

Both priceless papyri that could shed light on early Christianity and forgeries are openly trafficked online.

From The Daily Beast

While the bats are infected, they shed large quantities of virus that can infect other animals.

From The 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.

From Project Gutenberg

Above, great standard electric lamps shed their white glare upon the eddying throng casting a myriad of grotesque shadows.

From Project Gutenberg

Then waves of grief broke over her, and she sobbed convulsively; but still she shed no tears.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the Grass-land is often ridged so as to shed the water quickly, while deep ditches or drains do duty for fences.

From Project Gutenberg

Robert was out there under the shed, reclining in the shade against the sloping keel of the overturned boat.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• discard
• drop
• jettison
• scrap
• take off
• yield