sheet

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈshēt 

1

a

: a broad piece of cloth

especially : bedsheet

b

: sail sense 1a(1)

2

a(1)

: a usually rectangular piece of paper

especially : one manufactured for printing

(2)

: a rectangular piece of heavy paper with a plant specimen mounted on it

an herbarium of 100,000 sheets

b

: a printed signature for a book especially before it has been folded, cut, or bound

—usually used in plural

c

: a newspaper, periodical, or occasional publication

a gossip sheet

d

: the unseparated postage stamps printed by one impression of a plate on a single piece of paper

also : a pane of stamps

3

: a broad stretch or surface of something

a sheet of ice

4

: a suspended or moving expanse (as of fire or rain)

5

a

: a portion of something that is thin in comparison to its length and breadth

b

: a flat baking pan of tinned metal

a cookie sheet

6

: a surface or part of a surface in which it is possible to pass from any one point of it to any other without leaving the surface

a hyperboloid of two sheets

sheetlike

ˈshēt-ˌlīk 

adjective

sheet

2 of 5

adjective

1

: rolled or spread out in a sheet

2

: of, relating to, or concerned with the making of sheet metal

sheet

3 of 5

verb (1)

sheeted; sheeting; sheets

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a sheet

floors sheeted with dust

2

: to furnish with sheets

3

: to form into sheets

intransitive verb

: to fall, spread, or flow in a sheet

the rain sheeted against the windows

sheeter noun

sheet

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

: a rope or chain that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind

2

sheets plural : the spaces at either end of an open boat not occupied by thwarts : foresheets and stern sheets together

sheet

5 of 5

verb (2)

sheeted; sheeting; sheets

transitive verb

: to move or set (a sail) by manipulation of a sheet

Phrases

three sheets in the wind or three sheets to the wind

: drunk sense 1a

sheet home

1

: to extend (a sail) and set as flat as possible by hauling upon the sheets

2

: to fix the responsibility for : bring home to one

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• breadth
• distance
• expanse
• expansion
• extent
• field
• length
• plain
• reach
• spread
• stretch
• waste

Verb (1)

• blanket
• carpet
• coat
• cover
• overlay
• overlie
• overspread

Examples of sheet in a Sentence

Noun (1)

from the bow of our ship all we could see was an impenetrable sheet of fog

Verb (1)

dust sheeted the floors of the old, abandoned house

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Failure to confront and anticipate social and environmental issues and their consequences is being sheeted back to boards and executives. —The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Some of the larger items that will be exempt from sales taxes include a portable generator with a sales price of $3,000 or less, a tarpaulin or another kind of waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or below, and a ground anchor system totaling $100 or less. —Eden Villalovas, Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2023

Noun

Teams may begin negotiating with players on Jan. 21, while contracts and offer sheets may be signed beginning on Feb. 1. —Ben Pickman, The Athletic, 7 Dec. 2024

If a flat sheet is not your style, each piece can also be purchased separately. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English shete, from Old English scēte, scīete; akin to Old English scēat edge, Old High German scōz flap, skirt

Noun (2)

Middle English shete, from Old English scēata lower corner of a sail; akin to Old English scȳte sheet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1606, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sheet

• baking sheet
• balance sheet
• call sheet
• charge sheet
• cheat sheet
• clean sheet
• cookie sheet
• crib sheet
• dust sheet
• flow sheet
• fly sheet
• ice sheet
• letter sheet
• pink sheet
• rap sheet
• scandal sheet
• scratch sheet
• sheet anchor
• sheet bend
• sheet cake
• sheet glass
• sheet home
• sheet lightning
• sheet metal
• sheet music
• sheet pan
• short-sheet
• slip sheet
• souvenir sheet
• stat sheet
• tear sheet
• time sheet
• winding-sheet

Kids Definition

sheet

1 of 3 noun

ˈshēt 

1

: a broad piece of cloth (as an article of bedding used next to the body)

2

a

: a usually rectangular piece of paper

b

: an unbound page of a book

—usually used in plural

c

: a newspaper, magazine, or occasional publication

a gossip sheet

d

: the unseparated postage stamps printed by one impression of a plate on a single piece of paper

also : pane sense 2

3

: a broad surface of something

a sheet of ice

4

: a portion of something that is thin in comparison to its length and width

a sheet of iron

sheetlike adjective

sheet

2 of 3 verb

: to cover with a sheet : shroud

sheet

3 of 3 noun

: a rope or chain that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind

Etymology

Noun

Old English scēte, scīete "broad piece of cloth, sheet"

Noun

Old English scēata "lower corner of a sail"

Medical Definition

sheet

noun

ˈshēt 

1

: a broad piece of cloth

especially : an oblong of usually cotton or linen cloth used as an article of bedding

2

: a portion of something that is thin in comparison to its length and breadth

a sheet of connective tissue