Sheaf Meaning
/ʃiːf/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA quantity of the stalks and ears of wheat, rye, or other grain, bound together; a bundle of grain or straw.
nounAny collection of things bound together.
Sentence Examples
The farmer tied the wheat into a large and heavy sheaf.
A sheaf is a bundle of grain stalks tied together after reaping.
The farmer tied the wheat stalks into a neat sheaf.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
After gathering the wheat, the farmer tied the stalks into a ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer bound the cut wheat into a ____ and left it to dry in the field.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English scheef, from Old English sċēaf, from Proto-West Germanic *skaub, from Proto-Germanic *skauba- (“sheaf”). Cognates Akin to West Frisian skeaf (“sheaf”), Dutch schoof (“sheaf”), German Schaub, Old Norse skauf (“a fox's tail”). Compare further Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, “hair of the head”), German Schopf (“tuft”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"O, let me teach you how to knit again
This scattered corn into one mutual sheaf,
These broken limbs again into one body."
— c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], line 70:
"And then in haste her bow'r she leaves,
With Thestylis to bind the sheaves;
Or if the earlier season lead
To the tann'd haycock in the mead."
— 1645, John Milton, L'Allegro:
"Ev’n while the Reaper fills his greedy hands, / And binds the golden Sheafs in brittle bands"
— 1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 60, lines 429–430:
"'Tis not very long since there were Dwarfs at Jüne near Göttingen, who used to go into the fields and steal the sheaves of corn."
— 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 222:
"Max found himself accepting an impressive sheaf of money, more than he had ever touched before, and the books were taken from him before he could think of another objection."
— 1953, Robert Anson Heinlein, Starman Jones, page 45:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After gathering the wheat, the farmer tied the stalks into a ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The farmer bound the cut wheat into a ____ and left it to dry in the field.