sheer¹ / shi(ə)r/ • adj. 1. nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis): she giggled with sheer delight marriage is sheer hard work.2. (esp. of a cliff or wall) perpendicular or nearly so: the sheer ice walls.3. (of a fabric) very thin; diaphanous: sheer white silk chiffon.• adv. 1. perpendicularly: the ridge fell sheer, in steep crags.2. archaic completely; right: she went sheer forward when the door was open.• n. a very fine or diaphanous fabric or article.DERIVATIVES: sheer·ly adv.sheer·ness n.sheer² • v. [intr.] (typically of a boat or ship) swerve or change course quickly: the boat sheered off to beach further up the coast. ∎ fig. avoid or move away from an unpleasant topic: her mind sheered away from images she didn't want to dwell on.• n. a sudden deviation from a course, esp. by a boat.sheer³ • n. the upward slope of a ship's lines toward the bow and stern.

sheer1 †bright, shining; (of fabrics) thin, fine; unmixed, unqualified XVI; rising perpendicularly without a break XVIII. prob. alt. of (dial.) shire clear, pure, mere, thin, weak, OE. sċīr = OS. skīr(i), ON. skírr, Goth. skeirs :- Gmc. *skīraz, *skīrjaz, f. *skí- SHINE.

sheer2 (of a ship) turn aside. XVII. perh. — (M)LG., (M)HG. scheren; identical with SHEAR.

sheer3 (naut.) curve of a ship. XVII. prob. f. SHEAR.

sheer (kheer) Indian; creamed‐rice dessert.