sheaf

noun

plural sheaves ˈshēvz How to pronounce sheaf (audio)
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 adjective

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 Hannon incorporated the red and white from the Maryland flag and added a sheaf of golden wheat in the flag’s upper left-hand corner to represent Howard’s agricultural heritage. Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 24 Jan. 2024 The Supreme Court, which had overturned a sheaf of New Deal initiatives as well as state minimum wage laws, turned back to the middle in the face of rising public disdain and the court-packing scheme of Franklin Roosevelt. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024 Harvard’s board of governors stuck by President Gay, despite embarrassingly credible allegations that her slight sheaf of academic papers was marred by plagiarism. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023 In a side room, a sheaf of poems, printed on edible paper, sat on a spotlighted pedestal. Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 Harvard Hillel’s president, Jacob Miller, pushed a sheaf of examples across a table during an interview. Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2023 Arrange with wheat sheaves wrapped in satin ribbon for an elegant, natural touch. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023 In their new paper, Fargues and Scholze prove that there’s always a way to match a coherent sheaf with an étale sheaf, and as a result there’s always a way to match a representation of a p-adic group with a representation of a Galois group. Quanta Magazine, 19 July 2021 That included the sequester, a sheaf of budget cuts enacted to settle a debt ceiling fight in 2011. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sheaf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheaf was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sheaf

Cite this Entry

“Sheaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheaf. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sheaf

noun
plural sheaves ˈshēvz How to pronounce sheaf (audio)
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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on sheaf

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