sheer

¹sheer

verb \ˈshir\

Definition of SHEER

intransitive verb

: to deviate from a course : swerve

transitive verb

: to cause to sheer

Examples of SHEER

1. <the cruise ship sheered to the northwest, putting it safely out of the path of the hurricane>
2. <the car sheered to avoid hitting the dog>

Origin of SHEER

perhaps alteration of ¹shear

First Known Use: 1539

Related to SHEER

Synonyms: detour, deviate, diverge, turn, swerve, swing, turn off, veer, wheel

Antonyms: straighten

Related Words: tack, zigzag; double (back), turn back

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with SHEER

beer, bier, blear, cere, cheer, clear, dear, deer, Deere, drear, ear, fear, fere, fleer, gear, hear, here, jeer, leer, mere, mir, near, peer, pier, Pierre, queer, rear, schmear, sear, seer, sere, shear, skirr, smear, sneer, spear, speer, sphere, steer, tear, tier, Trier, Tyr, veer, weir, year