Shed

Pronunciation

• enPR: shÄ›d, IPA: /ʃɛd/
• Rhymes: -É›d

From Middle English sheden, scheden, schoden, from Old English scēadan, scādan ("to separate, divide, part, make a line of separation between; remove from association or companionship; distinguish, discriminate, decide, determine, appoint; shatter, shed; expound; decree; write down; differ"), from Proto-Germanic *skaiþaną (cf. West Frisian skiede, Dutch/German scheiden), from Proto-Indo-European *skēi-t-, zero grade of *skeh₁i-d 'to cut' (cf. Welsh chwydu 'to break open', Lithuanian skíesti 'to separate', Old Church Slavonic чѣдити 'to filter, strain', Ancient Greek σχίζω ("to split"), Old Armenian ցտեմ (cʿtem, "to scratch"), Sanskrit च्यति 'he cuts off'). Related to shoad; shit.

Full definition of shed

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete, UK, dialect) To part or divide.A metal comb shed her golden hair.
2. (ambitransitive) To part with, separate from, leave off; cast off, let fall, be divested of.You must shed your fear of the unknown before you can proceed.When we found the snake, it was in the process of shedding its skin.
• MortimerWhite oats are apt to shed most as they lie, and black as they stand.
• 2012 November 2, Ken Belson, "http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/sports/new-york-city-marathon-will-not-be-held-sunday.html?hp&_r=0," New York Times (retrieved 2 November 2012)She called on all the marathoners to go to Staten Island to help with the clean-up effort and to bring the clothes they would have shed at the start to shelters or other places where displaced people were in need.
3. (transitive, archaic) To pour; to make flow.
• ShakespeareDid Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?
4. (transitive) To allow to flow or fall.I didn't shed many tears when he left me.A tarpaulin sheds water.
5. (transitive) To radiate, cast, give off (light); see also shed light on.Can you shed any light on this problem?
6. (obsolete, transitive) To pour forth, give off, impart.
• 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts II:Sence now that he by the right honde of god exalted is, and hath receaved off the father the promys off the holy goost, he hath sheed forthe that which ye nowe se and heare.
7. (obsolete, intransitive) To fall in drops; to pour.
• ChaucerSuch a rain down from the welkin shadde.
8. To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover.
• Ben JonsonHer hair ... is shed with grey.
9. (weaving) To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.

Old English scēad, from . Cognate with German Scheitel ‘hair parting’.

Noun

1. (weaving) An area between upper and lower warp yarns through which the weft is woven.
2. (obsolete) A distinction or dividing-line.
3. (obsolete) A parting in the hair.
4. (obsolete) An area of land as distinguished from those around it.

Derived terms

• watershed

Variant of shade.

Noun

1. A slight or temporary structure built to shade or shelter something; a structure usually open in front; an outbuilding; a hut.a wagon shed; a wood shed; a garden shed
2. (British, derogatory, informal) An automobile which is old, worn-out, slow, or otherwise of poor quality.

Derived terms

• Bicycle shed
• Bike shed
• Engine shed
• Train shed

Anagrams

• heds