sheaf

noun

ˈshēf 

plural sheaves ˈshēvz 

1

: a quantity of the stalks and ears of a cereal grass or sometimes other plant material bound together

2

: something resembling a sheaf of grain

a sheaf of papers

3

: a large amount or number

sheaflike

ˈshēf-ˌlīk 

adjective

Synonyms

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• multiplicity
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• profusion
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Examples of sheaf in a Sentence

contends that casino gambling would generate a sheaf of social problems for the state

Recent Examples on the Web

The link to conformal field theory gave Beilinson and Drinfeld a place to start thinking about how to build a version of Fourier analysis for sheaves. —Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 19 July 2024

The sovereign, who is chieftain of the games, also watched traditional Highland sports including the hammer throw, sheaf toss and stone put. —Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2024

Even the simplest sheaves are fairly complicated mathematical entities. —Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 19 July 2024

Across from them, a man in a dark suit sat alone, a sheaf of papers in front of him, his shoulders braced in the tense posture of someone who has been authorized to spend a million dollars of his boss’s money. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sheef, from Old English scēaf; akin to Old High German scoub sheaf, Russian chub forelock

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sheaf

noun

ˈshēf 

plural sheaves ˈshēvz 

1

: a bundle of stalks and ears of grain

2

: a group of things often fastened together and resembling a sheaf of grain

a sheaf of arrows

a sheaf of papers

sheaflike

ˈshē-ˌflīk 

adjective