noun
shrew
shroo
Shrew (noun) means a small, mouse-like, mostly nocturnal mammal with a pointed snout. Example: “A shrew darted through the leaf litter, hunting insects.”
noun
1
A small, mouse-like, mostly nocturnal mammal with a pointed snout.
"A shrew darted through the leaf litter, hunting insects."
2
An ill-tempered, nagging woman (old-fashioned, now considered sexist).
"The old play mocked its heroine as a shrew who needed "taming.""
How to use shrew
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small pointy-nosed mammal, or, in old-fashioned usage, a nagging woman.
When to use it
The "nagging woman" sense is dated and widely seen as sexist; it survives mainly in older literature such as The Taming of the Shrew.
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Word forms
- Plural
- shrews
- Third person singular
- shrews
- Past tense
- shrewed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ darted through the leaf litter, hunting insects.
Etymology
From Old English screawa ("shrew"), ultimately from a root meaning "thin" or "small."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for shrew
See all rhymes for shrew →Frequently asked questions
What does “shrew” mean?
The word “shrew” means a small, mouse-like, mostly nocturnal mammal with a pointed snout. In plain terms, a small pointy-nosed mammal, or, in old-fashioned usage, a nagging woman.
How do you pronounce “shrew”?
“Shrew” is pronounced shroo (/ʃɹuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “shrew” in a sentence?
Here is “shrew” used in a sentence: “A shrew darted through the leaf litter, hunting insects.”
What is another word for “shrew”?
Words with a similar meaning to “shrew” include battle axe, brim, brimstone, crow, cat and dragon.
What part of speech is “shrew”?
“Shrew” is a noun.
Where does the word “shrew” come from?
The word “shrew” comes from Old English. From Old English screawa ("shrew"), ultimately from a root meaning "thin" or "small.".
How many meanings does “shrew” have?
“Shrew” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, mouse-like, mostly nocturnal mammal with a pointed snout.
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