Definition of sheep
sheep
1 : any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male; specifically : one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool
2a : a timid defenseless creatureb : a timid docile person; especially : one easily influenced or led
3 : leather prepared from the skins of sheep : sheepskin
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Examples of sheep in a Sentence
he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated
Recent Examples of sheep from the Web
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They even baa-ed as the armies of sheep approached.
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If Malzahn is simply following a policy that's become standard in his profession, shame on him for being a sheep.
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Hayden told him to buy a sheep, Carroll recalled, but not to drop out of grad school.
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The main livelihood activities are pastoralism (raising of cows, goats, sheep and camels) and/or subsistence farming — raising food crops for one’s household.
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The animals included dogs, cats, cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits.
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A shepherd begins with their dog at a post in a marked circle, called the shedding ring, at one end of the field as four or five sheep are released 425 yards north.
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And sheep, like other ruminants including cattle, produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, in their burps.
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The disease affects cloven-hoofed animals such as pigs, cows and sheep.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sheep'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sheep
Middle English, from Old English scēap; akin to Old High German scāf sheep
First Known Use: before 12th century
SHEEP Defined for English Language Learners
sheep
playDefinition of sheep for English Language Learners
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: an animal with a thick woolly coat that is often raised for meat or for its wool and skin
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: a person who does what other people say to do
SHEEP Defined for Kids
sheep
playDefinition of sheep for Students
sheep
1 : an animal related to the goat that is often raised for meat or for its wool and skin
2 : a weak helpless person who is easily led
Learn More about sheep
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See words that rhyme with sheep Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sheep Spanish Central: Translation of sheep Nglish: Translation of sheep for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sheep for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sheep
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