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
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 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
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
See all Example Sentences for sheaf 
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
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
See all Example Sentences for sheaf
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.
Dictionary Entries Near sheaf
Cite this Entry
“Sheaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheaf. Accessed 18 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sheaf
noun
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
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