shredder

Everyday

1. A shredder is a machine that cuts paper into thin strips so it cannot be read. tree →
2. A shredder can be a kitchen tool or machine part that cuts food or other things into thin pieces. tree →
3. (slang) A shredder is someone who plays very fast, skilled guitar, or who surfs or snowboards brilliantly. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life and safety: grown-ups shred letters with names, addresses and bank details to protect against identity theft. Safety: keep fingers away from a paper shredder and never feed it when it is jammed. Recycling: shredded paper can be used as bedding for hamsters. Slang: «he's a total shredder on the guitar».

Examples

• Mum put the old bank letters in the shredder. tree →
• Keep your fingers away from the shredder. tree →
• The shredder jammed because I put too much paper in. tree →
• We used shredded paper for the hamster's bed. tree →
• The office has a big shredder by the printer. tree →
• My cousin is a real shredder on the electric guitar. (slang) tree →
• The vegetable shredder made thin strips of carrot. tree →

Note

Countable. From «shred» (to tear into thin strips); the verb doubles the d: shred, shredded, shredding. In the slang sense «shred» means to play or ride amazingly well.