noun
shim
shihm
Shim (noun) means a thin piece of material used to fill a gap, level a surface, or provide support. Example: “He slid a shim under the table leg to stop it wobbling.”
noun
1
A thin piece of material used to fill a gap, level a surface, or provide support.
"He slid a shim under the table leg to stop it wobbling."
2
In computing, a small piece of code that sits between two systems to make them compatible.
"The library uses a shim to support older browsers."
verb
1
To fit a thin piece of material into a gap for support or alignment.
"The carpenter shimmed the door frame so it would close properly."
How to use shim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin wedge used to fill a small gap — or, in software, a small patch that lets two things work together.
Common pairings
a wooden shim
shim the gap
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Word forms
- Plural
- shims
- Third person singular
- shims
- Past tense
- shimmed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He slid a _____ under the table leg to stop it wobbling.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, possibly from Kent dialect; originally referred to a piece of iron on a plough, later to thin wedges of wood or metal.
Rhymes for shim
See all rhymes for shim →Frequently asked questions
What does “shim” mean?
The word “shim” means a thin piece of material used to fill a gap, level a surface, or provide support. In plain terms, a thin wedge used to fill a small gap — or, in software, a small patch that lets two things work together.
How do you pronounce “shim”?
“Shim” is pronounced shihm (/ʃɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “shim” in a sentence?
Here is “shim” used in a sentence: “He slid a shim under the table leg to stop it wobbling.”
What part of speech is “shim”?
Depending on how it is used, “shim” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “shim” have?
“Shim” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin piece of material used to fill a gap, level a surface, or provide support.
