shy1

adjective (shyer, shyest)

• 1nervous or timid in the company of other people:I was pretty shy at school a shy smile
• (shy of/about) slow or reluctant to do (something):the wealthy have become less shy of displaying their privilege
• [in combination] having a dislike of or aversion to a specified thing:they were a little camera-shy
• (of a wild mammal or bird) reluctant to remain in sight of humans: otters are very shy animals

• 2 (shy of) informal less than; short of:the shares are 29p shy of their flotation price
• before:he left school just shy of his fourteenth birthday

• 3(of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically.

verb (shies, shying, shied)

• (especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright at an object, noise, or movement: their horses shied at the unfamiliar sight
• (shy from) avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) due to nervousness or a lack of confidence:don’t shy away from saying what you think

noun

• a sudden startled movement, especially of a frightened horse.