Steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult. Sheer adjective (thin) sheer clothing or material is so thin, light, and delicate that you can see through it See examples of sheer used in a sentence. Extending down or up very steeply Definition of sheer adjective in oxford advanced learner's dictionary Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Sheer [size, strength, expanse, number, weight, amount, force], [amazed, surprised, overwhelmed] by the sheer [size] of it, that was sheer stupidity!, more. Used to emphasize the amount or degree of something Quotations the army's sheer size made it impossible to resist. Though shear and sheer sound the same, their meanings diverge significantly There are 20 meanings listed in oed's entry for the word sheer, seven of which are labelled obsolete See ‘meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
