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shed¹

(shĕd)

v. shed, shed·ding, sheds

v.tr.

a. To have (a growth or covering) be disconnected or fall off by a natural process: a tree shedding its leaves; a snake shedding its skin; a dog shedding its hair.

b. To rid oneself of (something not wanted or needed): I shed 25 pounds as a result of my new diet.

c. To take off (an article of clothing).

a. To produce and release (a tear or tears).

b. Archaic To pour forth.

3. To repel without allowing penetration: A duck's feathers shed water.

4. To diffuse or radiate; send forth or impart: a lamp that sheds a lot of light.

v.intr.

To lose a natural growth or covering by natural process: The cats are shedding now.

1. An elevation in the earth's surface from which water flows in two directions; a watershed.

2. Something, such as an exoskeleton or outer skin, that has been shed or sloughed.

3. The space made by raising certain warp threads on a loom and lowering others, allowing the woof to be passed between them.

Idioms:

shed blood

1. To wound or kill in a violent manner.

2. To be wounded or killed: "For he today that sheds his blood with me / Shall be my brother" (Shakespeare).

shed (someone's) blood

To wound someone or take someone's life, especially with violence.

[Middle English sheden, to separate, shed, from Old English scēadan, to divide; see skei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

shed²

(shĕd)

1. A small structure, either freestanding or attached to a larger structure, serving for storage or shelter.

2. A large low structure often open on all sides.

[Alteration of Middle English shadde, perhaps variant of shade, shade; see SHADE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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