WordGarden.ioshred
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʃrˈɛd/
US
- /ˈʃrɛd/
Meanings
Verb
to tear or cut something into small narrow pieces
to prepare food by pulling, grating, or cutting it into thin strips
to play fast, technically flashy passages on a guitar or other instrument
More meaningsFewer meanings
to securely delete a file by overwriting or destroying its contents
(slang)to snowboard, skateboard, surf, or ride very aggressively and skillfully
Noun
a small strip, fragment, or tiny remaining trace of something
Beyond the definition
To shred something is to tear it apart, usually into long, thin pieces. You might shred paper to protect private information, or a cook might shred cabbage for coleslaw. It often suggests a strong action, like a machine ripping through documents or an animal tearing at its food.
But shredding is not always about destruction. In music and sports, it can also describe high-energy skill. A talented guitarist might shred onstage, playing very fast and very well. A snowboarder might shred down a mountain, moving over difficult ground with confidence and force. Whether it is literal or figurative, the word often carries a sense of energy and intensity.
The word "shred" has a wide range of meanings, but they mostly center on breaking something into small, thin pieces or doing something with fierce energy. Most commonly, as a verb, it means to tear something, usually paper, cloth, or another material, into long, narrow strips. This is common when people destroy documents that contain private information. In the kitchen, it can also mean cutting or pulling food into thin pieces, such as shredded cheese, cabbage, or chicken.
Beyond the physical sense, "shred" is also a noun that means a small torn piece or fragment. From there, it is often used figuratively to mean even the smallest amount, especially in phrases like "not a shred of evidence" or "not a shred of doubt." In those expressions, the idea is that not even the smallest piece exists.
The word has also taken on a lively slang meaning. In extreme sports and music, to "shred" means to perform with great speed, force, and skill. A skier or snowboarder might shred a slope, and a guitarist might shred through a solo. In music, a "shredder" is a guitarist known for very fast playing.
The word comes from Old English screadian, meaning "to prune, cut off, or pare." Over time, it grew from a simple word about cutting into one that can describe destruction, food preparation, tiny remaining pieces, and bold performance in sports or music. Whether you are tearing up old papers, making dinner, or watching someone play at full speed, the word "shred" brings with it a sense of pieces, motion, and force.
Examples
- 1
Personal documents
I always shred bills and bank statements before I throw them away.
- 2
Cooking
Can you shred the chicken while I warm the tortillas?
- 3
Pet damage
By the time we got home, the puppy had chewed the mail to shreds.
- Phraseto shreds
completely into many small pieces
- 4
Harsh criticism
The critics shredded the new action movie in their reviews.
- Patternshred someone/something
criticize very strongly
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Crime evidence
There wasn’t a shred of evidence linking him to the crime.
- Phrasenot a shred of
not even a very small amount of
- 6
Small hope
Even after the second rejection, she still had a shred of hope.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- shrednounverb
Forms
- shreddedpast tenseverbnoun
- shredspluralnounverb
- shredding-ing formverbnoun