sheer

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

I. sheer¹ (shîr)intr. & tr.v. sheered, sheer·ing, sheers
To swerve or cause to swerve from a course.n.
1. A swerving or deviating course.
2. Nautical.
a. The upward curve or amount of upward curve of the longitudinal lines of a ship's hull as viewed from the side.
b. The position in which a ship at anchor is maintained in order to keep it clear of the anchor. [Probably partly from Low German scheren, to move to and fro (said of boats), and partly from Dutch scheren, to withdraw. See sker-¹ in Indo-European Roots.] II. sheer² (shîr)adj. sheer·er, sheer·est
1. Thin, fine, and transparent:
sheer curtains; sheer chiffon.
See Synonyms at airy.
2.
a. Completely such, without qualification or exception:
sheer stupidity; sheer happiness.
b. Free from admixture or adulterants; unmixed:
sheer alcohol.
See Synonyms at pure.
c. Considered or operating apart from anything else:
got the job through sheer persistence.
3. Almost perpendicular; steep:
sheer rock cliffs.
See Synonyms at steep¹.adv.
1. Almost perpendicularly.
2. Completely; altogether. [Obsolete shere, thin, clear, partly from Middle English shir, bright, clear (from Old English scīr), and partly from Middle English skir, bright, clean (from Old Norse skærr).] sheerʹly adv.sheerʹness n.

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  bluff, bold, plain, unmingled, unmixed, absolute, downright, out-and-out(a), rank(a), right-down, sheer(a), perpendicularly, swerve, curve, trend, veer, slue, slew, cut