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

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."

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

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

shimmed past tense, shims plural, shims plural, Shims plural, shims singular

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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

him whim

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.