sheer´ness

sheer¹ «shihr», adjective, adverb, noun.

–adj.

1. very thin; almost transparent: »

Sheer white curtains hung at the little windows to let in as much light as possible.

2. unmixed with anything else; complete: »

sheer nonsense. She fainted from sheer weariness.

SYNONYM(S): unadulterated, pure, absolute, utter.

3. straight up and down; very steep: »

From the top of the wall there was a sheer drop of 100 feet to the water below.

4. Obsolete. bright; shining; shiny.

–adv.

1. completely; quite: »

He fell sheer to the bottom of the cliff.

2. straight up and down; very steeply: »

The cliff rose sheer from the river's edge.

–n.

1. a thin, fine, almost transparent cloth.

2. a dress made of this: »

She wore a billowing pink sheer to the Junior Prom.

╂[Middle English scere clear, free, partly Old English scīr bright; vowel influenced by Old Icelandic sk bright]

–sheer´ness, noun.

sheer² «shihr», verb, noun.

–v.i.

to turn from a course; turn aside; swerve: »

Birds perching on the surrounding roofs took to flight immediately, while those passing over on the wing sheered off (New Scientist).

–v.t.

to cause to sheer.

–n.

1. the act of turning a ship from its course. SYNONYM(S): deviation.

2. the upward curve of a ship's deck or lines from the middle toward each end.

3. the position in which a vessel at anchor is placed to keep her clear of the anchor.

╂[probably < Dutch scheren. Compare etym. under shear, verb, in the sense of “to form two parts or pieces by cutting breaking.” (Cf. ↑shear)]