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.

she'd

¹

/ ʃiːd /

contraction of

1. she had or she would

shed

²

/ ʃɛd /

noun

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

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. another name for freezing works
5. 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

   shed blood

   to shed tears

2. shed light on or shed light upon or throw light on or throw 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. short for watershed
3. a parting in the hair

shed

⁵

/ 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

Usage Note

See contraction.

Derived Forms

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

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

Old English sced; probably variant of scead shelter, shade

Origin of shed³

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

Origin of shed⁴

from shed ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

As the team uses data from the Gemini, Keck and Magellan Telescopes to confirm and measure the properties of these binaries, this catalogue will ultimately shed light on the many elusive transient phenomena in our universe.

From Science Daily

Nelson, curator of SoyBase, explained, "having even a potential transcription start site will aid in the analysis of soybean gene promoter regions. This may shed light on the proteins that interact with promoters and induce transcription."

From Science Daily

The compounds shed both water and grease and are used in coatings in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and jet engines.

From Science Magazine

The results of this study shed new light on the importance of community-led co-creation in transdisciplinary projects toward the Healthy New Town.

From Science Daily

Although nearly half of Fresno County is dominated by agriculture, the city of Fresno is California’s fifth-largest city and long ago shed its identity as a quaint farm town.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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