Shaker adj relating to a style of wooden furniture of the kind made by the SHAKERS, which is known for being simple and well-made, and has become fashionable: an attractive set of Shaker chairs
Shakers, the /ˈfɛrkəzəl-ərz/ a Christian religious group that started in England in 1747 and was established in the US in 1774. They were called the Shakers because they were known for shaking with emotion during their religious meetings. Members live together and work in their own villages, and are known for farming, making strong but simple furniture, believing men and women are equal, and choosing to be CELIBATE (=not having sex). Because new members were not accepted after the 1960s and 1970s, there were only a few Shakers alive in the 1990s.
shakes /ʃeɪks/ n infmi 1 [the P] nervous shaking of the body from disease, fear, habitual drinking of alcohol etc: I began to get the shakes just thinking about the examination. 2 no great shakes (as/at) not very good, skilful, effective etc: He's no great shakes as a piano player, but he can sing well. Shakes·peare, William
/'feɪkspɪər/ (1564–1616) an English writer of plays and poems, born in STRATFORD-UPON-AVON in England, who is generally regarded as the greatest of all English writers. His many famous plays include the tragedies (TRAGEDY) Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear; the comedies (COMEDY) A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It; and the historical plays Richard III and Henry V. Many well-known English sayings come from Shakespeare's work, and he had a great influence on the English language and English literature. Most schoolchildren in the UK study Shakespeare's plays as part of their English studies. His work is known for its understanding of the way people think and feel, as well as for its beautiful language. Shakespeare also wrote poetry, including the Sonnets, and worked as an actor at the GLOBE THEATRE in London, which has recently been rebuilt as an exact copy of the original theatre. He married Anne HATHAWAY in 1582 and they had three children. He is buried at Stratford-on-Avon, and the houses where he lived can be visited there, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where his plays are regularly performed. → see also BACON, SIR FRANCIS; see Feature on page A25
Shakes·pea·re·an /ʃeɪkˈspɪərɪən/ adj [only before n] 1 in the style of Shakespeare: an almost Shakespearean richness of language 2 connected with the work of Shakespeare: a famous Shakespearean actor
'shake-up also shakeout n infml a rearrangement of an organization: There's been a government shake-up, with three ministers losing their jobs. → see also SHAKE UP
shak·y /ˈfeɪki/ adj infml 1 shaking or unsteady, especially from nervousness, weakness, or old age: I'm still a bit shaky after that bout of flu. 2 not solid or firm; weak and easily shaken; undependable: This ladder's rather shaky. | The team got off to a pretty shaky start this season, losing their first three matches. | The book puts forward such shaky arguments that they're impossible to take seriously. —lly adv —-iness n [U]
shale /ʃeɪl/ n [U] soft rock made of hardened mud or clay which divides naturally into thin sheets
shall /ʃəl; strong ʃæl/ v 3rd person sing. shall, negative short form shan't [modal+to-v] 1 (sometimes used with I and we to express the future tense): We shall be away next week. (compare They will be away next week.) I shall have completed my report by Friday. 2 (used especially with I and we in questions or offers that ask the hearer to decide): I'll tell her we'll come, shall I? (=is that agreed?) I What shall I do about it? I Shall I (=do you want me to) open the window? 3 fml (used especially in official writing to show a promise, command, or law): Payment shall be made by cheque and the terms shall be as follows .... → see also SHALT, SHOULD and NOT (USAGE)
USAGE In ordinary modern speech will or the short form 'll is used more often than shall in the first meaning.
shal·lot /ʃə'lot|ʃə'lait/ n a vegetable like a small onion
shal·low¹ /'sæləu/ adj 1 not deep; not far from top to bottom: a shallow river/dish/grave | He got in at the shallow end of the swimming pool. 2 derog lacking deep or serious thinking; SUPERFICIAL: shallow arguments | a shallow thinker whose opinions aren't worth much 3 (of breathing) not coming from or reaching very low in the chest → compare DEEP ︷ly adv ︸ness n [U]
shallow² v [1] fml to become SHALLOW: The river shallows at this point.
shai-lows /'sæləuz/ n [the P] a shallow area in a body of water: the shallows near the mouth of the river
Sha·lom /ʃæ'lom‖ʃæ'ləum/ intej a Jewish word used to say hello or goodbye. It means 'peace' in Hebrew.
shalt /ʃʌlt; strong / v thou shalt old use or bibl you shall
sham¹ /ʃæm/ n 1 [S] something that is not what it appears, pretends, or is claimed to be; piece of deceit: The agreement was a sham; neither side intended to keep to it. 2 [U] falseness; PRETENCE: I'm a blunt straightforward man; I hate sham.
sham² adj [A] not what it appears, pretends, or is claimed to be; IMITATION: sham jewellery/compassion
sham³ v -mm- [|;T] to put on the false appearance of (a disease, condition, feeling etc): He isn't really ill; he's only shamming.
sha·man /ˈfɑːmən/ n someone who (it is believed) works in the world of spirits while in a TRANCE (=dreamlike state) for the purpose of curing the sick and gaining important knowledge, and who often has a knowledge of how to use plants etc, for medicine → compare MEDICINE MAN, WITCHDOCTOR
sha·man·is·m /'fɑːmənizəm/ n any system of belief in shamans and the world of spirits → see also SHAMAN —ist n —istic /,ʃɑːməˈnɪstɪk/ adj
sham·a·teur /ˈʃæmətər, -tʃuər, -tʃər, ʃæməˈtɜːr/ n Br
infml derog a sports player who officially plays for no money but in fact receives payment —~ism n [U]
sham·ble /ˈʃæmbəl/ v [ˈl+adv/prep] usually derog to walk awkwardly or carelessly, dragging the feet: The old tramp shambled wearily up the path. | He walked with a shambling gait.
sham·bles /ˈfæmbəlz/ n [S] infml (a place or scene of) great disorder, (as if) the result of destruction; MESS: After the noisy party the house was (in) a shambles.  $ \mid $ She made a (complete) shambles of the accounts.
sham·bol·ic /ʃaem'bolikl-'ba:-/ adj BrE infrnl completely dis-
ordered or confused
shame¹ /ʃeɪm/ n 1 [U] a feeling of deep moral discomfort or loss of self-respect caused by consciousness of guilt, immoral behaviour, inability, or failure: She was full of shame at her bad behaviour. | You may well hang your heads in shame; it was a terrible thing to do. 2 [U usually in questions and negatives] the ability to feel this: He had no (sense of) shame and never felt guilty. | You mean they actually dance around on stage with no clothes on! Have they no shame? 3 [U] loss of honour; DISGRACE: Your bad behaviour brings shame on the whole school. | There's no shame in being poor. 4 [S] an unfortunate state of affairs; something one is sorry about: What a shame that it rained on the day of your garden party. | You should practise more often – it's a shame to waste such talent. 5 (a shout used to show disapproval of a speaker): The minister's speech brought cries of 'Shame!' 6 put someone/something to shame to SHAME someone or something: Your beautiful garden puts my few little flowers to shame. 7 Shame on you! You ought to be ashamed! → see also Nice ..., shame about the ... (PITY)
shame² v [T] 1 to bring dishonour to; DISGRACE: Such an act of cowardice by an officer shames his whole regiment. 2 to show to be lacking in quality, ability etc, by comparison: They have a record of industrial peace which shames other companies. 3 to cause to feel shame: It shames me to say it, but I told a lie. 4 [+obj+into, out of] to force or urge by causing feelings of shame: I tried to shame her into voting in the election, but she has no sense of public duty.
shame-faced /,feɪmˈfeɪst⌊/ n showing suitable shame or