sheer
sheer /ˈʃɪr/
adjective
-
(
)
Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
(
downright
, rank
, right-down
, out-and-out
, absolute
, 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
-
(
)
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
-
(
)
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
-
So thin as to transmit light
(
cobwebby
, diaphanous
, filmy
, gauze-like
, gauzy
, gossamer
, see-through
, sheer
, vaporous
, vapourous
[British, Non-standard] , vapory
[American] , vapoury
[Canadian, British] , transparent
)
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
-
Directly
(
sheer
)
directly
He fell sheer into the water
he fell sheer into the water
-
Straight up or down without a break
(
perpendicularly
, sheer
, orthogonally
)
straight up or down without a break
verb
-
(
)
Turn sharply; change direction abruptly
(
slew
, slue
, trend
, sheer
, curve
, cut
, 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
-
Cause to sheer
(
sheer
)
cause to sheer
She sheered her car around the obstacle
She sheered her car around the obstacle