From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishshedshed1 /ʃed/ ●●○ S3 noun [countable] 1 TBBa small building, often made of wood, used especially for storing things a tool shed a cattle shed2 TIFa large industrial building where work is done, large vehicles are kept, machinery is stored etc
Examples from the Corpus
shed• They might have been garages and they might have been sheds.• Constable Quince hid in the potting shed and lit a Woodbine.• Since then he and the other customers have had to gather in a renovated shed.• a storage shed• We found two old bill hooks in the shed and proceeded to become cavalry.• Jimmy was sitting in the shed sharpening a scythe.• Trestles have been set up in the shed, sheets of plywood laid over them.• The water is flushed through the sheds numerous times, becoming more concentrated with each pass.• On the lefthand side was the shed where they kept the saddlery.• We keep the ladder in the tool shed.shedshed2 ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle shed, present participle shedding) [transitive] 1 get rid ofGET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC to get rid of something that you no longer need or want The company is planning to shed about a quarter of its workforce. The magazine is desperately trying to shed its old-fashioned image. a diet to help you shed poundsRegisterShed is used especially in journalism. In everyday English, people usually say that someone or something gets rid of something.2 → shed light3 plants/animalsHBAHBP if a plant sheds its leaves or if an animal sheds skin or hair, they fall off as part of a natural process The trees were starting to shed their leaves. As it grows, a snake will regularly shed its skin.4 FALLdrop/fall to drop something or allow it to fall He strode across the bathroom, shedding wet clothes as he went.shed a load British English A lorry shed its load of steel bars on the M25.5 → shed blood6 → shed tears7 waterWATER if something sheds water, the water flows off its surface, instead of sinking into itCOLLOCATIONSnounsshed jobs/workers/staff etcThe bank continued to shed workers.shed weight (=lose weight from your body)Doing exercise is the best way to shed surplus weight.shed pounds/kilos (=to lose this amount of weight)I needed to shed a few pounds.shed an image (=change people's opinion about someone or something)Has the industry finally shed its negative image?shed your inhibitions (=stop worrying about what other people will think of your behaviour)As the party went on, people began to shed their inhibitions. → See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
shed• The candle shed a dim glow over her face.• I'd like to shed a few pounds.• Short-haired dogs don't shed as much as long-haired ones.• As it grows, a snake will regularly shed its skin.• Hoppe hopes his experiment will shed light on a biological mystery.• Gascoigne has shed nearly 6 kilos in pre-season training and looks much fitter.• The latest flushing models of mantle convection have shed new light on what may keep the supercontinents dancing.• After the Milford move, BorsodChem quickly shed one third of its market value.• A new diet drug that suppresses the appetite is helping people shed pounds without having to exercise or fuss with meal plans.• Stone's doctor ordered him to shed some weight and quit smoking.• Inside, the two leaders shed their coats and sat down facing each other.• During this time, the top layer of your skin is shed to reveal a fresh new one.shed ... leaves• Winter came and the Daurog shed their leaves.• When they shed leaves because of drought, trees do not usually bother with all the razzmatazz of colouring them beforehand.• Tall beech trees shed leaves over a disused tennis court, near well-kept lawns and bright hydrangeas.• He shed his leaves to cover her.• Inadequate light produces weak plants which shed their leaves very regularly.• Fiery gold and orange trees shed leaves which drifted down before a bright blue sky.From Longman Business Dictionaryshedshed /ʃed/ verb (past tense and past participle shed, present participle shedding) [transitive]1HUMAN RESOURCESto get rid of something that you no longer need, especially workersPlans to shed another 10,000 employees were unveiled.There are companies who are making high levels of profit and who are still shedding jobs.2FINANCEif shares shed an amount they become less in value by that amountThe shares shed 55 cents to close at A$15.9.→ See Verb tableOrigin shed1 (1400-1500) Probably from shade shed2 Old English sceadan “to divide, separate” 