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

You couldn’t get away from them, they could park singles at number one by sheer will,” Kirk, who in his early thirties, said.

From Los Angeles Times

President Xi welcoming North Korea's Kim Jong Un with a long handshake, then moving on to greet Russia's Vladimir Putin before all three walked together to watch the parade, was sheer political theatre.

From BBC

This is another big reason as to why so many Australians are selected, because of the sheer number of all-rounders they produce.

From BBC

Meanwhile, Harrison, who has modeled in campaigns for J. Crew and Topshop, wore a bodice and trousers with a sheer overlay on top.

From Los Angeles Times

That is partly because of the sheer numbers that have been seized, but also because many of the illegal bikes have their power supplies built into the frames.

From BBC

Related Words

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