I. ˈshed verb
( shed ; shed ; shedding ; sheds )
Etymology: Middle English sheden to divide, separate, shed, from Old English scēadan, scādan to divide, separate; akin to Old High German skeidan to separate, Gothic skaidan to separate, Latin scindere to cut, split, Greek schizein to split, Sanskrit chinatti he splits
transitive verb
1.
a. chiefly dialect : to cause to separate from something : divide or draft off usually from a larger group or body : set apart : segregate
shedding off the best lambs for market
shed the cattle into two groups
b. archaic : to divide (as hair or wool) by a part : part
c. : to divide (the warp) in weaving so as to form a shed
2.
a. obsolete : to distribute (as seed) abroad : sow
b. obsolete : to cause (as mist) to break up or dissipate
c. : to cause to be dispersed without penetrating : throw off by repelling
the duck's oily plumage sheds water
3.
a. : to cause (blood) to flow by cutting or wounding
b. : to pour forth or down in drops
shedding tears of remorse
c. : to give off in or as if in a stream : pour forth
fishes shedding their eggs in spawning
also : to give off or out : impart , release , diffuse
shedding kindness on all she met
to shed abroad such power may be dangerous
the sun sheds warmth over the earth
4. : to make disposal of or separate from (some natural part) in the normal course of life: as
a. : to cast off (as a hairy, chitinous, or other body covering) : molt
caterpillars shed their skins repeatedly
the cat shed hair over his trousers
b. : to be affected by a dropping of (as leaves or other parts)
c. : to eject (as seed or spores) from a natural receptacle
a puffball shedding its spores
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to become separated or divided : come apart : divide , depart
2. dialect chiefly Britain
a. : fall , drop , descend
b. : to pour out : spill
c. : to be dispersed : scatter
3. : to separate off some natural covering (as of hair or skin) or part (as leaves or twigs) usually in the normal course of life
the dog is shedding badly
some oats shatter and shed more readily than others
Synonyms: see discard
•
- shed blood
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English shed, from Old English gescēad, gescād, from ge- (perfective, associative, and collective prefix) + -scēad, -scād (from scēadan, scādan to divide, separate) — more at co-
1. obsolete : a separation of one thing from another ; also : distinction , difference
2.
a. chiefly dialect : the part of one's hair
b. : a similar parting in the wool of a sheep
3.
a. obsolete : a part broken away : fragment , clot
b. : something (as a cocoon or the skin of a snake) that is discarded in shedding
4. : a divide of land — compare watershed
5. : a passageway between the threads of a warp which is made by raising and lowering the alternate or selected ends to form a narrow diamond-shaped opening and through which the shuttle is thrown in weaving
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle English sched separated, from past participle of scheden, sheden to divide, separate, shed
1. : fallen off or out : let fall : spilled
shed blood
a mass of shed hair
2.
[probably alteration (influenced by shed ) (III) of shut (III) ]
dialect : free , rid — usually used with of
couldn't get shed of the old cat
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of earlier shadde, probably from Middle English shad, shade shade — more at shade
1.
a. : a slight structure (as a penthouse, lean-to, or partially open separate building) built primarily for shelter or storage : outbuilding ; especially : a single-storied building with one or more sides unenclosed
b. : any of various buildings felt to resemble a shed (as in openness of structure, in use, or in having a pent roof): as
(1) : woodshed
(2) : a covered structure for housing aerostats
2. archaic : a place of shelter:
a. : an inferior dwelling or humble domicile : hut
b. : the hiding or resting place of an animal : den , lair , nest
V. transitive verb
( shedded ; shedded ; shedding ; sheds )
: to put or house in a shed
shed tobacco for curing
the added cost of shedding cattle in cold weather
VI.
Scotland
variant of shade