n.
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English schere freed from guilt, probably alteration of skere, from Old Norse skærr pure; akin to Old English sc ī nan to shine
Date: circa 1568
1 obsolete : BRIGHT , SHINING
2 : of very thin or transparent texture : DIAPHANOUS
3 a : UNQUALIFIED , UTTER < sheer folly> < sheer ignorance> b : being free from an adulterant : PURE , UNMIXED c : viewed or acting in dissociation from all else <in terms of sheer numbers>
4 : marked by great and continuous steepness
synonyms see STEEP
– sheer · ly adverb
– sheer · ness noun