shire
Shire (noun) means a county or administrative region, especially in England or Australia. Example: “The shire council met to discuss new roadworks.”
How to use shire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA county, or the act of organising land into counties.
Word forms
shired past tense, Shires plural, shires singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ council met to discuss new roadworks.
Etymology
From Old English sċīr, meaning an administrative district under an official, related to a root meaning "to care for" or "to oversee."
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for shire
See all rhymes for shire →Frequently asked questions
What does “shire” mean?
The word “shire” means a county or administrative region, especially in England or Australia. In plain terms, a county, or the act of organising land into counties.
How do you pronounce “shire”?
“Shire” is pronounced sheye-uh (/ʃaɪ(ə)ɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shire” in a sentence?
Here is “shire” used in a sentence: “The shire council met to discuss new roadworks.”
What part of speech is “shire”?
Depending on how it is used, “shire” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shire” come from?
The word “shire” comes from Old English. From Old English sċīr, meaning an administrative district under an official, related to a root meaning "to care for" or "to oversee.".
Is “shire” a common word?
“Shire” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shire” have?
“Shire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a county or administrative region, especially in England or Australia.