Sheet
/ʃiːt/
Definitions
4 meaningsA large rectangular piece of cloth, especially one used in pairs to cover a bed.
/ʃiːt/
A rectangular piece of cloth used on a bed.
The sheets on the bed were clean and crisp.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're getting ready for bed. That big, flat piece of cloth you put on the mattress? That's a sheet! Like, "I need to wash the sheets because they're dirty."
👶 For kids: A sheet is a big cloth that you put on your bed to sleep on.
More Examples
She bought a new set of sheets for her guest room.
Make sure to wash the sheets every week.
How It's Used
"She changed the sheets on the bed."
A rectangular piece of paper, especially one used for writing or printing on.
/ʃiːt/
A rectangular piece of paper.
Please write your name at the top of the sheet.
💡 Simply: When you're writing a letter or taking notes, you use a sheet of paper! It's just one flat piece, like, "I need a sheet of paper to write down my grocery list."
👶 For kids: A sheet is a piece of paper to write or draw on.
More Examples
She printed the document on a single sheet of paper.
The exam was a multiple-choice sheet.
How It's Used
"He wrote the notes on a sheet of paper."
"The teacher handed out a sheet with the exam questions."
A broad, thin, flat expanse or layer of something.
/ʃiːt/
A thin layer or expanse of something.
A sheet of ice covered the road.
💡 Simply: Think of a thin layer. Like, a "sheet of ice" covering the road, or the "sheet of rain" during a storm. It's a flat surface.
👶 For kids: A sheet can be a thin layer of something like rain or ice.
More Examples
A sheet of flame erupted from the fire.
A sheet of sweat ran down his face.
How It's Used
"A sheet of rain fell over the city."
"The cookie sheet was filled with treats."
To cover (something) with a sheet; to furnish (a bed) with sheets.
/ʃiːt/
To cover with a sheet.
The maid sheeted the bed.
💡 Simply: When you "sheet" something, you're putting a sheet over it. You might "sheet the bed" to make it ready to sleep in.
👶 For kids: To sheet means to put a sheet on something, like your bed.
More Examples
They sheeted the furniture before painting the room.
He's sheeting the crib with a new mattress pad.
How It's Used
"She sheeted the bed with clean linen."
Idioms & expressions
a blank sheet
A situation or period of time when one is free to start something new without any preconceived ideas or influences.
"After her divorce, she saw her life as a blank sheet, ready to rewrite the story."
sheet lightning
Lightning that appears as a broad, diffuse flash rather than a distinct streak.
"We saw some sheet lightning in the distance last night but no thunder."
From Middle English shete, from Old English scēat ('sheet, cloth'), from Proto-Germanic *skautaz ('sheet, cloth, corner, fold'). Related to Dutch schoot, German Schoß, and Old Norse skautr.
The word 'sheet' has been used in English since the Old English period, initially referring to cloth and later to paper and other flat surfaces.
Memory tip
Think of the cloth that covers your bed. It's a SHEET!
Word Origin
"a piece of cloth, covering"