sheep — a domesticated ruminant mammal with a thick woolly coat, kept for its wool or meat
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a domesticated ruminant mammal with a thick woolly coat, kept for its wool or meat
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʃiːp/
Example Sentences
- Mary had a little lamb, but John had a big sheep that ate his homework.
- The sheep's wool is used to make warm sweaters.
- When I can't sleep, I count sheep jumping over a fence.
sheep
NOUN[/ʃiːp/]
a domesticated ruminant mammal with a thick woolly coat, kept for its wool or meat
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Sheep derives from Old English scēap, a word as ancient as the domestication of sheep itself. It originates from the Common Germanic ancestor language, reflecting the deep historical connection between Germanic peoples and woolled livestock.
Breakdown
The word shows direct descent from Old English scēap with regular sound changes: the Old English 'sc' simplified to 'sh' in Middle English, and the vowel 'ē' shifted to the modern 'ee' sound, yielding the modern form sheep.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Mary had a little lamb, but John had a big sheep that ate his homework.”
“The sheep's wool is used to make warm sweaters.”
“When I can't sleep, I count sheep jumping over a fence.”
“Don't be a sheep - think for yourself!”
📚Related Words
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