shred
nounEtymology
The verb is derived from Middle English shreden, shred (“to chop, cut up; to cut, hack; to wound with a knife; to cut off a part of (something); to prune, trim”) [and other forms], from Old English sċrēadian (“to cut up, shred; to cut off; to prune, trim”), from Proto-West Germanic *skraudōn, related to Proto-West Germanic *skraudan (“to cut up; to shred”), from Proto-Germanic *skraudaną (“to cut up; to shred”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut off”). The adjective is derived from the past participle form of the verb.
- inherited from *skraudōn✻
- inherited from shreden
Definitions
A fragment of something
A fragment of something; a particle; a piece; also, a very small amount.
- There isn’t a shred of evidence to support his claims.
- His gayeſt flooriſhes are but Gaſcoignes Weedes, or Tarletons trickes, or Greenes crankes, or Marlowes bravadoes; his jeſts, but the dregges of common ſcurrilitie, or the ſhreds of the Theater, or the of-ſcouring of new pamflets: […]
A long, narrow piece (especially of fabric) cut or torn off
A long, narrow piece (especially of fabric) cut or torn off; a strip; specifically, a piece of cloth or clothing.
- To leaue him that bare a Monarkes minde, / For a king of clovvts, of very ſhreads.
- […] Gold being grovvn ſomevvhat churliſh by recovering, is made more pliant by throvving in ſhreds of tanned Leather, or any Leather oiled.
A piece of gold or silver lace or thread.
- But, vvhen a tvvelvemonth paſs'd avvay, / Jack found his goddeſs made of clay; / Found half the charms that deck'd her face, / Aroſe from povvder, ſhreds, or lace; […]
›+ 18 more definitionsshow fewer
A shard or sherd (“a piece of broken glass or pottery”).
- And when he neared Brandon he pulled up, sorted his pots, kept the whole ones, threw the shreds at the rabbits, and walked on into Brandon solemnly, leading the mare, and crying "Pots!"
A tailor.
- Mer[curie]. Is it ſo, ſir, you impudent Poultroun? you ſlaue, you liſt, you ſhreds, you.— […] Ana[ides]. S'foot, vve muſt vſe our taylors thus.
- As if thou ere vver't angry / But vvith thy Taylor, and yet that poore ſhred / Can bring more to the making vp of a man, / Then can be hop'd from thee: […]
To cut or tear (something) into long, narrow pieces or strips.
To destroy (a document) by cutting or tearing into strips or small pieces that cannot…
To destroy (a document) by cutting or tearing into strips or small pieces that cannot easily be read, especially using a shredder.
- But then there was the awkward incident of the tearing of the writs. Nigel, to whom a lie was an impossibility, had to admit that with his own hands he had shredded those august documents.
To cut (fruit peel, a vegetable, etc.) into thin strips that curl.
To separate (something) into small portions.
- Hunger was shred into atomies in every farthing porringer of husky chips of potato, fried with some reluctant drops of oil.
To reduce (something) by a large percentage
To reduce (something) by a large percentage; to slash.
Chiefly in rock and heavy metal
Chiefly in rock and heavy metal: to play (a musical instrument (especially a guitar) or a piece of music) very fast and in a way that requires technical skill.
To cut through (snow, water, etc.) swiftly with one's snowboard, surfboard, etc.
To cut through (snow, water, etc.) swiftly with one's snowboard, surfboard, etc.; (by extension) to move or ride along (a road, track, etc.) aggressively and rapidly.
To convincingly defeat (someone)
To convincingly defeat (someone); to thrash, to trounce.
To cut or sever (something) into two parts.
To chop or cut (something) into pieces.
- Another vvafts his Blade about his head, / And ſhevvs them hovv their hãſtrings [hamstrings] he vvil ſhread.
- Seeſt thou this, bold bright blade? / This Sword ſhall ſhred thee as ſmall unto the Grave, / As minc'd meat for a Pie.
- Morality ſhreddeth ſinne as a garden knot; but Religion ſtubbeth it up by the roots.
To cut, lop, or strip (branches, etc.) off
To cut, lop, or strip (branches, etc.) off; also, to cut (a piece) from something.
- You ly, you ly, Gabriell: I know what you are about to ſaye, but He ſhred you off three leaves at one blowe.
- [A]ll vſurie in it ovvne nature is biting, becauſe it biteth or ſhreddeth avvay ſome of the borrovvers ſubſtance.
To prune or trim (a tree, a vineyard, etc.).
- As for Timber-trees, it is beſt not to head them at all, but to ſhred them up to one ſingle Bough, if the Soil be good that you plant them in; […]
To become separated into small portions.
- What is this that rises before me? Mist, mist, rolling mist with a square black tower above it. See it shreds out, it thins, it rises, and there lies a castle in a green plain, with the sea beneath it, and a great church within a bow-shot.
To reduce body weight due to fat and water before a competition.
To travel swiftly using a snowboard, surfboard, or vehicle.
Synonym of shredded (“cut or torn into narrow strips or small pieces”).
- The ſtinging alſo of ſhred Horſ-hair, which in meriment is often ſtrew'd between the ſheets of a Bed, ſeems to proceed from the ſame cauſe.
The neighborhood
- neighborscreed
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for shred. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA