sheep
sheep S2 W3 /ʃiːp/
noun (plural sheep) [countable]
a farm animal that is kept for its wool and its meat:
Sheep were grazing on the hillside.
a sheep farmer
flock of sheep (=a group of sheep) ⇨ lamb1
2. like sheep if people behave like sheep, they do not think independently, but follow what everyone else does or thinks:
Tourists were led around like sheep, from shrine to souvenir shop.
3. separate the sheep from the goats British English to find out which people are intelligent, skilful, successful etc, and which are not:
This test should really separate the sheep from the goats.
4. make sheep’s eyes at somebody old-fashioned to look at someone in a way that shows you love them
⇨ black sheep, ⇨ count sheep at count1(12), ⇨ a wolf in sheep’s clothing at wolf1(2)
sheep S2 W3 /ʃiːp/
noun (plural sheep) [countable] Language: Old English
Origin: sceap
1. Origin: sceap
a farm animal that is kept for its wool and its meat:
flock of sheep (=a group of sheep) ⇨ lamb1
2. like sheep if people behave like sheep, they do not think independently, but follow what everyone else does or thinks:
3. separate the sheep from the goats British English to find out which people are intelligent, skilful, successful etc, and which are not:
4. make sheep’s eyes at somebody old-fashioned to look at someone in a way that shows you love them
⇨ black sheep, ⇨ count sheep at count1(12), ⇨ a wolf in sheep’s clothing at wolf1(2)