sheep
//ˈʃiːp//
Forms
- Plural
- sheep
Definitions
1.A woolly ruminant of the genus Ovis.
- There is much sad evidence, too, of the spoliation and dereliction of vanished industry: tips, slag-heaps and derelict colliery-screens among which the ubiquitous, nomad mountain sheep graze unconcernedly.
2.A member of the domestic species Ovis aries, the most well-known species of Ovis.
- Ziri started a sheep farm in Algeria.
3.A timid, shy person who is easily led by others.
- Ziri started a sheep farm in Algeria.
4.A religious adherent, a member of a congregation or religious community (compare flock).
- Ziri started a sheep farm in Algeria.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4450
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English schep, schepe, from Anglian Old English sċēp (West Saxon sċēap), from Proto-West Germanic *skāp, from Proto-Germanic *skēpą, of unknown origin.