shed /ʃɛd/

Origin

Old English scēada (shelter, protection), related to Dutch schut and German Schutz

Part of Speech

• noun
• verb (shed, shedding, shed)

Definitions

As a noun

1. A simple structure used for storage or shelter
   • "He kept his tools in the garden shed"
   • "The farmers store hay in a wooden shed"

As a verb

1. To cast off or let fall naturally

   • "Trees shed their leaves in autumn"
   • "My dog sheds a lot of fur in summer"

2. To get rid of or dispose of something

   • "She shed tears when saying goodbye"
   • "He's trying to shed some weight before summer"

3. To give out or emit (light)

   • "The lamp shed light on the dark street"
   • "The candle shed a warm glow in the room"

Related Words

• Forms: sheds (n/v), shedding (v)
• Synonyms:
  • (noun): barn, storehouse, hut, outbuilding
  • (verb): drop, lose, cast off, discard, release

Memory Tricks

• Think of a snake "shedding" its skin - it naturally falls off
• For the noun form, remember that a shed is like a "shade" for your stuff (shed/shade sound similar)
• The word contains "he" - imagine a man (he) building a simple shelter (shed)

Common Collocations

• shed light on (reveal or explain)
• shed blood (violence or injury)
• shed tears (cry)
• shed weight/pounds (lose weight)