sheet

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
a
: a broad piece of cloth
especially : bedsheet
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 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 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The pack contains six different types of masks, ranging from hydrating and calming ones to sheet masks that tightens the looks of pores. Nikhita Mahtani, CNN Underscored, 9 Sep. 2020 In contrast, actual snow tires are capable of safely gripping any surface a driver may encounter during the winter, from bare pavement, to sheet ice, and anything in between. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 9 Mar. 2023 Can manufacturers have been relying more on imports of foreign can sheet. Bob Tita, WSJ, 11 May 2022 Step 4Add green beans to sheet and toss to combine. Kate Merker, Good Housekeeping, 14 Dec. 2022 The new plant will supply can sheet to Ball, which has opened four new can plants in recent years, with two more under construction. Bob Tita, WSJ, 11 May 2022 The new report corroborates—and adds new details to—a State Department fact sheet the Trump administration released in January, which stated Chinese researchers had fallen ill in the fall of 2019, but did not mention they had been hospitalized. Jack Brewster, Forbes, 24 May 2021 Wear a towel or sheet over your head in order to keep the steam from escaping. Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, 1 May 2020
Noun
Arrays of these odor generators, which are millimeters in size, are incorporated into thin, flexible sheets of electronics. Simon Makin, Scientific American, 9 May 2023 National Nurses Week Beauty and Wellness Discounts Brooklyn Bedding: Medical providers who verify their eligibility with ID.me can take 30% off their entire order from Brooklyn Bedding, including mattresses, sheets and bedding. E.l.f. Samantha Jones, Good Housekeeping, 9 May 2023 The bedroom is also elegant with a super-king size bed taking centre stage, which is dressed in fine 400 thread count sheets. Angelina Villa-clarke, Forbes, 5 May 2023 The rapid change in the rate environment has strained the balance sheets of some US regional banks, causing deposit outflows and contributing to the collapse of firms including Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank. Tom Metcalf, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2023 There's a fingerprint reader somewhere, but Motorola's spec sheet doesn't say where. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 2 May 2023 He was found wrapped in a sheet and stuffed in an attic crawl space, WJBK-TV (Fox 2 Detroit) reported. Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 1 May 2023 Officers found his body wrapped in a sheet and stuffed in a crawl space of his attic. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 1 May 2023 The doctor's body was found in the attic of his sprawling Boston-Edison home, wrapped in a sheet, and his car was found abandoned on the west side of Detroit, the outlet reported. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 28 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sheet.' 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

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near sheet

Cite this Entry

“Sheet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheet. Accessed 29 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

sheet

1 of 3 noun
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sheet

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!