n. & v.
n. 1 a large rectangular piece of cotton or other fabric, used esp. in pairs as inner bedclothes. 2 a a broad usu. thin flat piece of material (e.g. paper or metal). b (attrib.) made in sheets (sheet iron). 3 a wide continuous surface or expanse of water, ice, flame, falling rain, etc. 4 a set of unseparated postage stamps. 5 derog. a newspaper, esp. a disreputable one. 6 a complete piece of paper of the size in which it was made, for printing and folding as part of a book.
v. 1 tr. provide or cover with sheets. 2 tr. form into sheets. 3 intr. (of rain etc.) fall in sheets. sheet lightning a lightning flash with its brightness diffused by reflection. sheet metal metal formed into thin sheets by rolling, hammering, etc. sheet music music published in cut or folded sheets, not bound.
[ OE scete, sciete f. Gmc ]