shred
Definitions
General English
- noun a long narrow piece torn off something
- verb to tear or cut paper into long thin pieces, which can then be thrown away or used as packing material
- verb to cut something into very thin pieces
Food
- verb to cut food into very thin strips
Information & Library Science
- verb to cut something into long thin strips
Origin & History of “shred”
A shred is etymologically a ‘cut’ piece. The word comes ultimately from the prehistoric west Germanic base *skraud-, *skreud-, *skrud- ‘cut’, source also of English shroud. From it was formed the noun *skrautha, which has evolved into German schrot, Dutch schroot, and English shred, and has also, via a circuitous route, given English scroll.
