noun
Uncommon
shred
shrehd
Shred (noun) means a small torn or cut strip or fragment of something. Example: “The dog left the newspaper in shreds all over the kitchen floor.”
noun
1
A small torn or cut strip or fragment of something.
"The dog left the newspaper in shreds all over the kitchen floor."
"There isn't a shred of evidence to support the claim."
verb
1
To cut or tear something into narrow strips or small pieces.
"She shredded the lettuce for the salad."
"He shredded the old bank statements before throwing them out."
How to use shred
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small torn strip of something, or the act of tearing/cutting something into such strips.
Common mistake
"Not a shred of" is a fixed phrase meaning "not even the smallest amount" — used almost always with evidence, doubt, or truth.
Common pairings
not a shred of evidence
shred documents
shredded cheese
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Word forms
- Plural
- shreds
- Third person singular
- shreds
- Past tense
- shredded
- Comparative
- more shred
- Superlative
- most shred
- Archaic forms
- shreddest, shreddedst, shreddeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog left the newspaper in _____ all over the kitchen floor.
Etymology
From Old English screade ("a piece cut off"), related to Proto-Germanic roots meaning "to cut."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for shred
See all rhymes for shred →Frequently asked questions
What does “shred” mean?
The word “shred” means a small torn or cut strip or fragment of something. In plain terms, a small torn strip of something, or the act of tearing/cutting something into such strips.
How do you pronounce “shred”?
“Shred” is pronounced shrehd (/ʃɹɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “shred” in a sentence?
Here is “shred” used in a sentence: “The dog left the newspaper in shreds all over the kitchen floor.”
What part of speech is “shred”?
Depending on how it is used, “shred” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shred” come from?
The word “shred” comes from Old English. From Old English screade ("a piece cut off"), related to Proto-Germanic roots meaning "to cut.".
Is “shred” a common word?
“Shred” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shred” have?
“Shred” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small torn or cut strip or fragment of something.
