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, shedding 

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, shedding 

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 /

verb

1. to pour forth or cause to pour forth

   to shed tears

   shed blood

2. 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

²

/ 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. at work

verb

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

shed

³

/ 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

⁴

/ ʃɛd /

noun

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

she'd

⁵

/ ʃiːd /

contraction

1. she had or she would

Usage

See contraction.

Other Word Forms

• shedlike adjective
• shedable adjective
• sheddable adjective
• nonshedding adjective
• unshedding adjective
• shedding noun

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

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

Origin of shed²

Old English sced; probably variant of scead shelter, _shade

Origin of shed³

from _shed ²

Origin of shed⁴

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. shed blood,

   1. to cause blood to flow.

   2. to kill by violence; slaughter.

Example Sentences

After expanding after the pandemic, payrolls at manufacturing firms have shrunk this year, shedding 12,000 jobs last month alone.

From BBC

On the flip side, O’Brien’s Roman may not possess the sharpness of “the brightest tool in the shed” as he erroneously says, but his disarmingly endearing lack of malice enthralls the more cynical Dennis.

From Los Angeles Times

The Labor Department said the federal government shed 15,000 positions last month.

From BBC

"Households seem likely to shed some of the significant caution that has characterised the past couple of years," he said.

From BBC

Public reaction to Mr Thompson's killing has shed light on privatised healthcare, and some have celebrated the accused murderer as a folk hero, with supporters gathering outside the courthouse during his hearings.

From BBC

Related Words

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