shy¹ / shī/ • adj. (shy·er, shy·est) 1. being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people: I was pretty shy at school a shy smile. ∎  (shy about) slow or reluctant to do (something): she has never been shy about discussing her efforts to raise aesthetic standards. ∎  [in comb.] having a dislike of or aversion to a specified thing: they were a little camera-shy. ∎  (of a wild mammal or bird) reluctant to remain in sight of humans.2. (shy of) inf. less than; short of: he won the championship with a score three points shy of a world record. ∎  before: he left school just shy of his fourteenth birthday.3. (of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically.• v. (shies, shied) [intr.] (esp. of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright at an object, noise, or movement. ∎  (shy from) avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) due to nervousness or a lack of confidence: don't shy away from saying what you think.• n. a sudden startled movement, esp. of a frightened horse.DERIVATIVES: shy·er / ˈshī(ə)r/ n.shy·ly adv.shy·ness n.shy² dated • v. (shies, shied) [tr.] fling or throw (something) at a target: he tore the glasses off and shied them at her.• n. (pl. shies) an act of flinging or throwing something at a target.PHRASES: have a shy at try to hit something, esp. with a ball or stone. ∎ archaic attempt to do or obtain something. ∎ archaic jeer at: you are always having a shy at Lady Ann and her relations.