shedding

Everyday

1. Present participle of «shed»: losing hair, skin or leaves naturally. tree →
2. Letting something fall or flow: «shedding tears». tree →
3. Getting rid of something unwanted: «shedding weight», «shedding jobs». tree →
4. (UK) Dropping its load on a road: «a lorry shedding its load». tree →

In the lessons

Science: snakes shed their skin; trees shed leaves in autumn; dogs shed hair. Everyday: «shedding light on» means explaining. Phrases: «shed light on», «shed tears», «shedding hair».

Examples

• Our dog is shedding hair all over the sofa. tree →
• The trees are shedding their leaves. tree →
• A snake was shedding its old skin. tree →
• She was shedding tears of joy. tree →
• This book sheds light on the Tudors. tree →
• The company is shedding jobs. tree →
• When he entered his hut he found his wife, who had somehow heard the news, twisting herself to and fro and shedding tears. tree →

Note

«Shed» is irregular: shed, shed (past same), shedding (double «d»). Do not confuse with «a shed» (a small hut in the garden).

In Jewish tradition

Here it means spilling innocent blood, which Jeremiah blames the king for.

Interpretation. Tradition treats killing the innocent as one of the three sins a Jew must die rather than commit.

Examples

• But thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. (Prophets JER.22.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Shed» is irregular: shed, shed (past same), shedding (double «d»). Do not confuse with «a shed» (a small hut in the garden).