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sheaf

Pronunciation: /ʃiːf/

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Definition of sheaf

noun (plural sheaves /ʃiːvz/)

  • a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthways and tied together after reaping.
  • a bundle of objects of one kind, especially papers:he waved a sheaf of papers in the air

verb

[with object]
  • bundle into sheaves: the corn and barley had to be sheafed and stooked

Origin:

Old English scēaf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schoof 'sheaf' and German Schaub 'wisp of straw', also to the verb shove

Spelling rule

Change the -f to -ves to make the plurals of nouns that end in a consonant or a single vowel plus -f or -fe: (sheaves).

sheaf in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sheaf in the US English dictionary

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