shed
/ʃed/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A simple roofed structure, typically of wood, used for storage or shelter: A small building, often in a garden or on a farm, for storing tools, equipment, or animals.
Verb:
- To cast off or lose (a natural outer covering): To allow something like hair, skin, leaves, or horns to fall off or be discarded naturally.
- To cause (something) to flow or fall: To pour out or let fall in drops or small quantities.
- To get rid of (something unwanted or unnecessary): To discard or divest oneself of a quality, image, or possession.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The gardening tools are kept in the shed.
- They built a small shed for the bicycles.
Verb (to cast off):
- Our cat sheds a lot of fur in the summer.
- Deciduous trees shed their leaves in autumn.
Verb (to cause to flow/fall):
- She shed tears of joy at the news.
- The broken pipe shed water all over the floor.
Verb (to get rid of):
- He worked hard to shed his reputation for being unreliable.
- The company is trying to shed its old-fashioned image.
Advanced Usage
"to shed light on something": To make a problem or situation clearer or easier to understand by providing new information.
- This new evidence sheds light on the mystery.
"to shed blood": To cause injury or death, especially in a violent conflict.
- Too much blood has been shed in this war.
"to shed one's skin/clothes": To literally or figuratively remove an outer layer, often implying renewal or change.
- The snake sheds its skin as it grows.
- He shed his wet clothes after the storm.
Variants and Related Words
Shedding (n/gerund): The process or act of casting something off.
- The shedding of leaves is a normal process.
Watershed (n): A turning point or critical dividing line. (Note: This is a compound word where "shed" is part of a fixed term).
- The invention of the internet was a watershed moment.
Synonyms
- Noun: Hut, shack, lean-to, outhouse.
- Verb (to cast off): Moult, slough, discard, drop.
- Verb (to pour out): Spill, pour, emit, scatter.
- Verb (to get rid of): Discard, drop, lose, divest.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Shed off: (Less common) To cast off or remove.
- The tree will shed off its old bark.
Related Idioms
- "Shed crocodile tears": To show false or insincere sorrow.
- He's not really sad about the loss; he's just shedding crocodile tears.
Adjective
- shed at an early stage of development
- most amphibians have caducous gills
- the caducous calyx of a poppy
Noun
- an outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage
Verb
- cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers
- our dog sheds every Spring
- cause or allow (a solid substance) to flow or run out or over
- spill the beans all over the table
- pour out in drops or small quantities or as if in drops or small quantities
- shed tears
- spill blood
- God shed His grace on Thee
- get rid of
- he shed his image as a pushy boss
- shed your clothes