shed

To lose hair, skin, or leaves naturally as part of growth or a change of season.

• This dog sheds a lot of hair.
• The snake shed its skin yesterday.
• Most of these trees shed their leaves in autumn.

Similar words: lose, cast off

Common phrases: shed skin, shed leaves, shed hair, shed a coat

To let tears or blood flow from the body.

• She shed a few tears.
• Many soldiers shed blood in that war.
• He didn't shed a tear when the film ended.

Similar words: spill

Common phrases: shed tears, shed blood, shed a tear

To get rid of something unwanted or no longer needed.

• She wants to shed some weight.
• The company shed hundreds of jobs last year.
• He gradually shed his fear of speaking in public.

Similar words: lose, discard, get rid of

Opposites: keep, retain

Common phrases: shed weight, shed jobs, shed something unwanted, shed a fear

To give out light so that something can be seen.

• The candle shed a soft light.
• Moonlight shed a pale glow over the fields.
• A small lamp shed light on the stairs.

How to use it: shed light on something (The lamp shed light on the open book.)

Similar words: give off, emit, cast

Common phrases: shed light, shed a glow, shed light on something

A small building, often wooden, used to store tools and other things.

• The tools are in the shed.
• We built a wooden shed behind the house.
• She keeps her bicycle in the garden shed.

Similar words: outbuilding

Common phrases: garden shed, tool shed, wooden shed, storage shed

A simple small building or covered structure that protects things from the weather.

• The wagon stood under an open shed.
• They sheltered the cattle in a shed.
• A simple shed kept the firewood dry.

Similar words: shelter, outbuilding, hut

Common phrases: wagon shed, cattle shed, open shed, wooden shed