sheep
SHEEP
Sheep (noun) means a woolly grazing animal kept for its meat, wool, or milk. Example: “The farmer sheared his sheep in early summer.”
noun
1
A woolly grazing animal kept for its meat, wool, or milk.
"The farmer sheared his sheep in early summer."
"Wool from a single sheep can make several jumpers."
"The hillside was dotted with grazing sheep."
2
A timid person who follows others without thinking for themselves.
"He hated being seen as a sheep, so he questioned everything the group decided."
"Only a sheep would buy something just because everyone else has it."
"Don't just be a sheep — make up your own mind about the policy."
How to use sheep
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe farm animal known for its wool; also an insult for someone who blindly copies the crowd.
Common mistake
The plural is also "sheep" — there is no "sheeps."
Common pairings
a flock of sheep
black sheep
follow like sheep
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Word forms
- Plural
- sheeps
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The farmer sheared his _____ in early summer.
Etymology
From Old English sċēap, an ancient Germanic word of unclear ultimate origin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sheep
See all rhymes for sheep →Frequently asked questions
What does “sheep” mean?
The word “sheep” means a woolly grazing animal kept for its meat, wool, or milk. In plain terms, the farm animal known for its wool; also an insult for someone who blindly copies the crowd.
How do you pronounce “sheep”?
“Sheep” is pronounced SHEEP (/ˈʃiːp/ in IPA).
How do you use “sheep” in a sentence?
Here is “sheep” used in a sentence: “The hillside was dotted with grazing sheep.”
What is another word for “sheep”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sheep” include Ovis.
What part of speech is “sheep”?
“Sheep” is a noun.
Where does the word “sheep” come from?
The word “sheep” comes from Old English. From Old English sċēap, an ancient Germanic word of unclear ultimate origin.
Is “sheep” a common word?
“Sheep” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “sheep” have?
“Sheep” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a woolly grazing animal kept for its meat, wool, or milk.
Why is "sheep" the same in singular and plural?
"Sheep" is an unchanging noun, so one sheep and many sheep use the identical form with no added -s. Number is instead shown by other words in the sentence, such as "a sheep" versus "several sheep."
What is the difference between calling someone a "sheep" and calling them a "follower"?
Calling someone a "sheep" is a critical, figurative label for a timid person who follows others without thinking for themselves. "Follower" is more neutral and can simply mean a supporter, so "sheep" carries a stronger note of disapproval.
What is the difference between "sheep" and "lamb"?
A sheep is a woolly grazing animal kept for its meat, wool, or milk, and the word covers the adult animal. A lamb is a young sheep, so all lambs are sheep but the term "lamb" specifically marks the animal's youth.
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