steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

sheer adjective (THIN) Sheer clothing or material is so thin, light, and delicate that you can see through it: sheer nylon tights

SHEER definition: transparently thin; diaphanous, as some fabrics. See examples of sheer used in a sentence.

1. transparently thin; diaphanous, as some fabrics: sheer stockings. 2. unmixed with anything else; unadulterated: sheer rock; sheer luck. 3. unqualified; utter: sheer nonsense. 4. extending …

Collocations: sheer [size, strength, expanse, number, weight, amount, force], [amazed, surprised, overwhelmed] by the sheer [size] of it, that was sheer stupidity!, more...

Definition of sheer adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Nov 18, 2025 · Used to emphasize the amount or degree of something. quotations The army's sheer size made it impossible to resist.

Though shear and sheer sound the same, their meanings diverge significantly. Shear refers to cutting or force-induced displacement within materials, whereas sheer signifies extremity or …

Sheer is an adjective that can generally refer to something extremely or utmost in degree, amount or intensity. It can also describe something complete and pure.

You can use sheer to emphasize that a state or situation is complete and does not involve or is not mixed with anything else.