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