shed¹ / shed/ • n. a simple roofed structure, typically made of wood or metal, used as a storage space, a shelter for animals, or a workshop. ∎  a larger structure, typically with one or more sides open, for storing or maintaining vehicles or other machinery: a shed is required for the three shunt engines.• v. (shed·ded, shed·ding) [tr.] (usu. be shedded) park (a vehicle) in a depot.shed² • v. (shed·ding; past and past part. shed) [tr.] (of a tree or other plant) allow (leaves or fruit) to fall to the ground: both varieties shed leaves in winter. ∎  (of a reptile, insect, etc.) allow (its skin or shell) to come off, to be replaced by another one that has grown underneath. ∎  (of a mammal) lose (hair) as a result of molting, disease, or age. ∎  take off (clothes). ∎  discard (something undesirable, superfluous, or outdated): what they lacked was a willingness to shed the arrogance of the past. ∎  have the property of preventing (something) from being absorbed: this leather has a superior ability to shed water, sweat, and salt. ∎  eliminate part of (an electrical power load) by disconnecting circuits.PHRASES: shed (someone's) blood be injured or killed (or kill or injure someone).shed light onsee light¹ .shed tears weep; cry.

shed1 pt., pp. shed †separate, divide OE.; (dial.) spill, let fall, pour, send forth as an emanation XII; give forth, diffuse XIV; cast off XVI. OE. str. vb. sċ(e)ādan, corr. to OS. skēdan, OHG. sceidan (Du., G. scheiden), Goth. skaidan :- Gmc. *skaiðan, *skaiþan. Beside orig. OE. sċ(e)ādan, repr. by early ME. shode, a var. with falling diphthong sċēadan arose, from which the present shed descends. The OE. vb. retained its str. conjugation in WS., but is found only wk. in Nhb.; str. forms persisted to some extent in ME., but wk. forms finally prevailed.

shed2 †separation OE. (dial.) parting of the hair XIV; ridge of ground dividing valleys (cf. WATERSHED) XVI; spacing between the threads of the warp XVIII. OE. (ġe)sċēad, alt. of (ġe)sċēad f. base of SHED1.

she'd / shēd/ • contr. of she had; she would.

shed3 slight structure for shelter. XV (shadde). prob. specialized use of shad(de), shed(de), by-forms of SHADE.