What is shed? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of shed in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of shed

shedverb

túp lều

/ʃed//ʃed/

Where does the word shed come from?

The word "shed" has its roots in the Old English language, where it was spelled as "scēad." This word referred to a small building or enclosure used for various purposes, such as storage, shelter, or housing animals. The Old English word "scēad" is derived from the Proto-Germanic root word "skǣd", which means "encounter" or "happening." This root also gave us the Old Norse word "skēð" meaning "skeleton" or "hollow space," as well as the modern English words "scene" (a place where something happens) and "shade" (an area without direct sunlight). In Middle English, the spelling of "shede" (with an "e" instead of an "a" in the first syllable) became more common, and this spelling evolved into the modern "shed." The meaning of "shed" has remained largely the same over time, though it has also been used in various figurative senses, such as "shedding" (to release or discard something) and "shed tears" (to cry). Overall, the word "shed" has a rich and complex history, with roots that reach back to the Proto-Germanic language and connections to terms for encounters, hollow spaces, and scenes.

Vocabulary summary shed

typenoun

meaninghut, shed (for goods, tools)

exampletree sheds leaves

examplesnake sheds skin

examplestag sheds horn

meaningbarn (buffalo, cow, horse)

exampleto shed one's colleagues

exampleto shed tears

exampleto shed one's blood for one's country

typetransitive verb shed

meaningfall (leaves...), peel (skin...)

exampletree sheds leaves

examplesnake sheds skin

examplestag sheds horn

meaningabandon, to drop

exampleto shed one's colleagues

exampleto shed tears

exampleto shed one's blood for one's country

meaningrelease

exampleto shed perfume

examplelamp sheds light

exampleto shed love

Example of vocabulary shedget rid of

meaning

to get rid of something that is no longer wanted

  • The factory is shedding a large number of jobs.
  • a quick way to shed unwanted pounds (= extra weight or fat on your body)
  • Museums have been trying hard to shed their stuffy image.

Example of vocabulary sheddrop

meaning

to take off a piece of clothing

  • We shed our jackets.
  • Luke shed his clothes onto the floor.
meaning

to lose or drop what it is carrying

  • The traffic jam was caused by a lorry shedding its load.

Example of vocabulary shedskin/leaves

meaning

if an animal sheds its skin, or a plant sheds leaves, it loses them naturally

  • How often does a snake shed its skin?
  • trees that shed their leaves in autumn

Example of vocabulary shedlight

meaning

to send light over something; to let light fall somewhere

  • The candles shed a soft glow on her face.

Example of vocabulary shedtears

meaning

to cry

  • She shed no tears when she heard he was dead.

Example of vocabulary shedblood

meaning

to kill or injure people, especially in a war

  • How much blood will be shed before the fighting ends?

Example of vocabulary shedwater

meaning

to have the quality of causing water or liquid to run off and not sink in

  • A duck's feathers shed water immediately.

Idioms of vocabulary shed

cast/shed/throw light on something
to make a problem, etc. easier to understand
  • Recent research has shed new light on the causes of the disease.

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