1. A 完全的，十足的　complete; thorough
2. 陡峭的，垂直的　very steep; almost up and down
3. 极薄的，轻的，透明的　thin, light and almost transparent

　～ cliff〔rock〕　陡峭的悬崖〔岩石〕
　～ waste of time　纯粹浪费时间
　～ chance　偶然
　～ nonsense　一派胡言
　～ nylon　薄而透明的尼龙

　He achieved his aim by sheer strength of will.　他纯粹靠意志力达到了目的。
　It's a sheer cliff there.　那边有一座悬崖。
　The waterfall makes a sheer drop of one thousand feet.　瀑布从1000英尺的高处直泻而下。
　She wears a pair of sheer stockings.　她穿着一双透明的丝袜。
　The mountain was too sheer to climb.　这山太陡峭了，无法攀登。
　That dress is too sheer to wear without a slip.　那条连衣裙太透明了，没有衬裙不能穿。

　vi.　避开；突然转向 turn (as if) to avoid hitting sth; change direction quickly

 ♣ sheer away　(v.+adv.)
　突然转向，急转　change direction suddenly
　The boat came close to the rocks and then sheered away.　船靠近岩石时突然掉转航向。
　She tends to sheer away from any discussion of her divorce.　一谈到离婚，她就转变话题。
 ♣ sheer off　(v.+adv.)
　躲开，避开　go away; leave in a different direction; take avoiding action
　The speed-boat seemed to be heading straight towards some swimmers but sheered off at the last moment.　那快艇眼看驶向一些游泳的人，但最后一刻它改变了航向。
　The boat was able to sheer off in time to avoid an accident.　那船及时地躲开，避免了一场事故。
　When he saw me coming he sheered off in the opposite direction.　他一看到我过来，掉头就走了。
　I saw her in the High Street, but she sheered off so as not to meet me!　我在大街上看见了她，但她故意避开我。
　Every time that delicate subject was mentioned, he would sheer off from it.　每当提到那个微妙的题目时，他都要避开。
　You should sheer off the urchin.　你应该躲避这顽童。

　sheer　也可用作副词，意思是“垂直地，陡峭地”。例如：
　The mountain rises sheer from the plain.　这座山几乎是从草原上拔地而起。

　［派生词］ sheerly adv.垂直地，陡峭地‖sheerness n.垂直，陡峭
　［同义词］ adj. fine, perfect, pure, sharp, thin
　［反义词］ adj. coarse, incomplete, mixed, partial, thick
　［词源］中古英语schere（全然的，陡峭的）