sheer

¹

[sheer]

adjective

sheerer, sheerest 

1. transparently thin; diaphanous, as some fabrics.

   sheer silk.

   Antonyms: opaque

2. unmixed with anything else.

   We drilled a hundred feet through sheer rock.

   Synonyms: unadulterated, pure, simple, mere

3. unqualified; utter.

   sheer nonsense.

   Synonyms: downright, absolute

4. extending down or up very steeply; almost completely vertical.

   a sheer descent of rock.

   Synonyms: precipitous, abrupt

5. British Obsolete.,  bright; shining.

adverb

1. clear; completely; clean.

   ran sheer into the thick of battle.

   Synonyms: entirely, totally

2. perpendicularly; vertically; down or up very steeply.

noun

1. a thin, diaphanous material, as chiffon or voile.

sheer

²

[sheer]

verb (used without object)

1. to deviate from a course, as a ship; swerve.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to sheer.

2. Shipbuilding.,  to give sheer to (a hull).

noun

1. a deviation or divergence, as of a ship from its course; swerve.

2. Shipbuilding.,  the fore-and-aft upward curve of the hull of a vessel at the main deck or bulwarks.

3. Nautical.,  the position in which a ship at anchor is placed to keep it clear of the anchor.

sheer

¹

/ ʃɪə /

adjective

1. perpendicular; very steep

   a sheer cliff

2. (of textiles) so fine as to be transparent

3. (prenominal) absolute; unmitigated

   sheer folly

4. obsolete,  bright or shining

adverb

1. steeply or perpendicularly

2. completely or absolutely

noun

1. any transparent fabric used for making garments

sheer

²

/ ʃɪə /

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a course

2. (intr) to avoid an unpleasant person, thing, topic, etc

noun

1. the upward sweep of the deck or bulwarks of a vessel

2. nautical the position of a vessel relative to its mooring

Other Word Forms

• sheerness noun
• sheerly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheer¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English scere, shere, schere “free, clear, bright, thin”; probably from Old Norse skǣrr; change of sk- from s(c)h- perhaps by influence of the related Old English scīr ( English dialect shire “clear, pure, thin”); cognate with German schier, Old Norse skīr, Gothic skeirs “clear”

Origin of sheer²

First recorded in 1620–30; of uncertain origin; perhaps a special use of sheer ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheer¹

Old English scīr; related to Old Norse skīrr bright, Gothic skeirs clear, Middle High German schīr

Origin of sheer²

C17: perhaps variant of _shear

Example Sentences

"It's just clear to us that the current importing systems were not prepared to handle the sheer amount of volume and paperwork."

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One panel would have required ancient artists to climb and work precariously on narrow ledges, underscoring the sheer effort and significance of the imagery.

Read more on Science Daily

He made it crystal clear that England's star system was over, that players in possession could cement their places by sheer weight of performances, the biggest names no longer guaranteed an automatic recall.

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Many are deeply worried at the sheer speed of the progression.

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Homeowner satisfaction with how insurers handle property claims this year has been strained by “the sheer volume of catastrophic events, history of widespread premium increases and slow repair cycle times,” according to surveys by J.D.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• outright 
• pure 
• simple 
• unadulterated 
• unalloyed 
• unmitigated