~ 1
■ noun
1》 a large rectangular piece of cotton or other fabric, used on a bed to cover the mattress or as a layer beneath blankets.
2》 a broad flat piece of metal or glass.
3》 a rectangular piece of paper.
↘a quantity of text or data on a ~ of paper.
↘ Printing a flat piece of paper as opposed to a reel of continuous paper, the bound pages of a book, or a folded map.
↘a set of unseparated postage stamps.
4》 an extensive unbroken surface area of something.
↘a broad moving mass of flames or water.
■ verb
1》 cover with or wrap in a ~ of cloth.
2》 (of rain) fall heavily.
Origin
OE scēte , scīete , of Gmc origin; related to shoot .
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~ 2 Nautical
■ noun
1》 a rope attached to the lower corner of a sail.
2》 ( ~s ) the space at the bow or stern of an open boat.
■ verb ( ~ something in/out ) make a sail more or less taut.
↘( ~ something home ) set a sail as flat as possible.
Phrases
two (or three ) ~s to the wind informal drunk.
Origin
OE scēata 'lower corner of a sail', of Gmc origin; related to ~ 1 .