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shred

cut into strips / small piece / tiny amount
Transitive VerbNoun
pl: shredspast: shreddedpp: shreddeding: shredding

This term evokes the image of forceful fragmentation, whether through mechanical action like a shredder or manual effort with a knife. It carries a connotation of irreversible destruction when applied to documents, but a precise, culinary preparation when applied to food. When used as a noun to describe an abstract quality, such as evidence or dignity, it functions as a quantifier of extreme scarcity. This usage is almost exclusively found in negative constructions to emphasize that not even the smallest possible unit of a thing exists.

Meanings

Transitive Verb
[~ something]

To cut or tear something into long, narrow strips or small pieces.

"She used a paper shredder to destroy the confidential documents."

Transitive Verb
[~ something]

To cut food, especially vegetables, into thin strips using a grater or knife.

"The recipe calls for you to shred the cabbage for the coleslaw."

Noun

A small strip or piece of something, especially paper or cloth.

"A tiny shred of fabric was caught in the door."

Noun

A very small amount of something, typically used in negative statements to emphasize a total lack of a quality.

"He does not have a shred of evidence to support his claim."

Related Words

Last Updated: June 12, 2026Report an Error