WordofTheDay.US

Added 9 October 2026

shed

/ʃɛd/ noun

Categories: ThingsUncommon Words

In Latin: effundo Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about shed at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. An outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage.

verb

  1. Get rid of.
    he shed his image as a pushy boss
  2. Pour out in drops or small quantities or as if in drops or small quantities.
    shed tears
  3. Cause or allow (a solid substance) to flow or run out or over.
    spill the beans all over the table

adjective

  1. Shed at an early stage of development.
    most amphibians have caducous gills

Origin

From Middle English scheden, schede, from Old English scēadan, scādan (“to separate, divide, part, make a line of separation between; remove from association or companionship; distinguish, discriminate, decide, determine, appoint; shatter, shed; expound; decree; write down; differ”), from Proto-West Germanic *skaiþan, from Proto-Germanic *skaiþaną (compare West Frisian skiede, Dutch and German scheiden), from Proto-Indo-European *skeyt- (“to cut, part, divide, separate”), from *skey-.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: spillthrowcastdropdisgorgecaducousexuviate

Back to today's word