shred

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to tear or cut something into small, narrow pieces

   The machine can shred several sheets of paper at once.

2. 2
   noun

   a small, narrow piece torn or cut from something

   A shred of cloth remained caught on the fence.

3. 3
   noun

   the slightest amount of something, especially evidence, hope, or truth

   There was not a shred of evidence against her.

From Old English scrēadian, 'to cut up, cut off, or prune,' through Middle English shreden. It belongs to a Germanic family ultimately associated with the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)ker-, 'to cut.'

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