(shir) v.i.
To swerve from a course; turn aside.
—v.t. To cause to swerve or deviate.
—noun
1. Naut. a The rise, or the amount of rise from a level, of the lengthwise lines of a vessel's hull. b A position of a vessel that enables it to swing clear of a single anchor.
2. A swerving or curving course. ♦ Homophone: shear. [<SHEAR]

(shir) adjective
1. Having no modifying conditions; unmitigated; absolute; downright; utter: sheer folly; sheer nonsense.
2. Exceedingly thin and fine: said of fabrics.
3. Perpendicular; steep; ascending vertically: a sheer precipice.
4. Pure; pellucid.
5. Obs. Bright; shining. See synonyms under PURE, STEEP.
—noun Any very thin fabric used for clothes.
—adverb Entirely; perpendicularly: also sheer′ly. ♦ Homophone: shear. [ME schere. Cf. ON skœrr clear, bright and OE scīr bright, shining.]
—sheer′ness noun