sheer
1 (shîr)
[Probably partly from Low German scheren, to move to and fro (said of boats), and partly from Dutch scheren, to withdraw.]
intr. & tr.v.: sheered, sheer·ing, sheers.
- To swerve or cause to swerve from a course.
noun
- A swerving or deviating course.
- Nautical
- The upward curve or amount of upward curve of the longitudinal lines of a ship's hull as viewed from the side.
- The position in which a ship at anchor is maintained in order to keep it clear of the anchor.
sheer
2 (shîr)
[Obsolete shere, thin, clear, partly from Middle English shir, bright, clear (from Old English scīr), and partly from Middle English skir, bright, clean (from Old Norse skærr).]
adjective: sheer·er, sheer·est.
- Thin, fine, and transparent: sheer curtains; sheer chiffon. See synonyms at airy
- Completely such, without qualification or exception: sheer stupidity; sheer happiness.
- Free from admixture or adulterants; unmixed: sheer alcohol. See synonyms at pure
- Considered or operating apart from anything else: got the job through sheer persistence.
- Almost perpendicular; steep: sheer rock cliffs. See synonyms at steep1
adverb
- Almost perpendicularly.
- Completely; altogether.
derivatives
- sheeŕly
- adverb
- sheeŕness
- noun
