Collins English-English Dictionary

sheer [ʃɪə]

1. 1. adj perpendicular; very steep

   a sheer cliff

2. 2. adj (of textiles) so fine as to be transparent

3. 3. adj [prenominal] absolute; unmitigated

   sheer folly

4. 4. adj [obsolete] bright or shining

5. 5. adv steeply or perpendicularly

6. 6. adv completely or absolutely

7. 7. n any transparent fabric used for making garments

8. 8. n [Etymology] Old English scir; related to Old Norse skirr bright, Gothic skeirs clear, Middle High German schir

sheer [ʃɪə]

1. 1. vb [foll by off or away (from)] to deviate or cause to deviate from a course

2. 2. vi. [intr] to avoid an unpleasant person, thing, topic, etc

3. 3. n the upward sweep of the deck or bulwarks of a vessel

4. 4. n [nautical] the position of a vessel relative to its mooring

5. 5. n [Etymology] C17: perhaps variant of shear