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 sheer sheer /ˈʃɪr/

adjective

  1. () Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers  ( downright , rank , right-down , absolute , out-and-out , sheer )
    complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
     Absolute freedom
    absolute freedom
     An absolute dimwit
    an absolute dimwit
     A downright lie
    a downright lie
     Out-and-out mayhem
    out-and-out mayhem
     An out-and-out lie
    an out-and-out lie
     A rank outsider
    a rank outsider
     Many right-down vices
    many right-down vices
     Got the job through sheer persistence
    got the job through sheer persistence
     Sheer stupidity
    sheer stupidity
  2. () Not mixed with extraneous elements  ( unmingled , unmixed , plain , sheer )
    not mixed with extraneous elements
     Plain water
    plain water
     Sheer wine
    sheer wine
     Not an unmixed blessing
    not an unmixed blessing
  3. () Very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front  ( bluff , bold , sheer )
    very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
     A bluff headland
    a bluff headland
     Where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise
    where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise
     A sheer descent of rock
    a sheer descent of rock
  4. So thin as to transmit light  ( cobwebby , diaphanous , filmy , gauze-like , gauzy , gossamer , see-through , sheer , vaporous , transparent , vapourous [British, Non-standard] , vapory [American] , vapoury [Canadian, British] )
    so thin as to transmit light
     A hat with a diaphanous veil
    a hat with a diaphanous veil
     Filmy wings of a moth
    filmy wings of a moth
     Gauzy clouds of dandelion down
    gauzy clouds of dandelion down
     Gossamer cobwebs
    gossamer cobwebs
     Sheer silk stockings
    sheer silk stockings
     Transparent chiffon
    transparent chiffon
     Vaporous silks
    vaporous silks

adverb

  1. Directly  ( sheer )
    directly
     He fell sheer into the water
    he fell sheer into the water
  2. Straight up or down without a break  ( perpendicularly , sheer , orthogonally )
    straight up or down without a break

verb

  1. () Turn sharply; change direction abruptly  ( slew , slue , trend , curve , cut , sheer , swerve , veer )
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly
     The car cut to the left at the intersection
    The car cut to the left at the intersection
     The motorbike veered to the right
    The motorbike veered to the right
  2. Cause to sheer  ( sheer )
    cause to sheer
     She sheered her car around the obstacle
    She sheered her car around the obstacle