rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryshredTorn or cut pieces
noun / verb

shred

SHRED/ʃrˈɛd/

A small strip or fragment torn from a whole.

A narrow shred of cloth has a ragged, frayed edge.

A single narrow ragged strip torn from a larger piece of cloth, frayed edge clearly connects it to the remaining fabric.
Etymology
shredOld Englishpiece cut off, scrap

A shred was originally a piece cut off, and could mean a strip hanging from a garment. That small fragment supplies the image for a tiny remaining amount.

In context

Forgotten Servant Kitchens5:35
Some inmates chewed a single shred of beef for 10 full minutes, extracting every last bit of flavor before swallowing.
20 Forgotten Foods Victorian Workhouse Inmates Were Forced to Eat

More examples

  • Tiny shreds of paper cover the floor.
  • She shreds the cabbage for coleslaw.
  • A shred of plastic catches on the fence.

Forms

shred · shreds · shredded · shredding

shredder noun — A machine that cuts material into strips.

Similar words

scrap
A small leftover piece, not necessarily torn or narrow.
fragment
A broken-off portion that need not be narrow.
strip
A long, narrow piece, often cut neatly rather than torn.