shred

[ shred ]

noun

1. a piece cut or torn off, especially in a narrow strip.
2. a bit; scrap:

   We haven't got a shred of evidence.

verb (used with object)

, shred·ded or shred, shred·ding.

1. to cut or tear into small pieces, especially small strips; reduce to shreds:

   I shred my credit card statement every month.

verb (used without object)

, shred·ded or shred, shred·ding.

1. to be cut up, torn, etc.:

   The blouse had shredded in the wash.

2. Slang. to snowboard, skateboard, surf, or ski in a highly skilled or showily spectacular manner:

   I bought a new action camera that I can mount to my helmet—stay tuned for rad videos of me shredding when I hit the slopes next weekend.

3. Slang. to play guitar very quickly with specific picking techniques, as during an electric guitar solo:

   Fans in the mosh pit go wild when Eddie shreds on lead guitar.

shred

/ ʃrɛd /

noun

1. a long narrow strip or fragment torn or cut off
2. a very small piece or amount; scrap

verb

1. tr to tear or cut into shreds

Derived Forms

• ˈshredder, noun

Other Words From

• shred·less adjective
• shred·like adjective
• un·shred·ded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shred¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun shrede, schrede, shredd, Old English scrēade, scrēad “a cutting, a scrap”; cognate with Old Norse skrjōthr “worn-out book,” German Schrot “chips”; Middle English verb schreden “to chop, cut up,” Old English scrēadian “to pare, trim, prune (trees)”; akin to shroud; screed

Word History and Origins

Origin of shred¹

Old English scread; related to Old Norse skrjōthr torn-up book, Old High German scrōt cut-off piece; see scroll , shroud , screed

Example Sentences

On the morning of 20 April 2023, shrapnel shredded the abdomen of a 32-year-old Ukrainian soldier who goes by the call sign “Black.”

From Science Magazine

In the complaint, he cited photos of a paper shredding truck parked outside the Department of Justice as proof that Smith planned to destroy the records.

From Salon

We can be certain that when he takes the reins of government, he will have no compunction about destroying every last shred of information about them.

From Los Angeles Times

The hit also tore his lateral cruciate ligament, shredded the cartilage in his knee and tore the hamstring off the bone.

From Los Angeles Times

Except it wasn’t a terrifying beast — it was a person in a bear costume using a kitchen tool designed to shred meat, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fragment
• iota
• modicum
• ounce
• sliver
• smidgen
• snippet
• speck
• whit