shepherd

English Online Dictionary. What means shepherd‎? What does shepherd mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English schepherde, from Old English sċēaphierde, a compound of sċēap (“sheep”) and hierde (“herdsman”), equivalent to modern sheep +‎ herd (“herder”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɛpɚd/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɛpəd/
• Hyphenation: shep‧herd

Noun

shepherd (plural shepherds)

1. A person who tends sheep, especially a grazing flock.

   Synonym: pastor (now rare)

   Hyponym: shepherdess (f.)

   1. A male sheep tender

      Coordinate term: shepherdess (f.)

2. (figurative) Someone who watches over, looks after, or guides somebody.

   Hyponym: shepherdess (f.)

   • 1769, Oxford Standard text, Bible (King James), Psalms 23:1

     The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

   1. A male watcher/guardian/guider/leader

      Coordinate term: shepherdess (f.)

3. (figurative) The pastor of a church; one who guides others in religion.

   Hyponym: shepherdess (f.)

   1. A male pastor

      Coordinate term: shepherdess (f.)

4. (poetic) A swain; a rustic male lover.
5. A German Shepherd.

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Translations

Verb

shepherd (third-person singular simple present shepherds, present participle shepherding, simple past and past participle shepherded)

1. (transitive) To watch over; to guide.
2. (transitive, Australian rules football) To obstruct an opponent from getting to the ball, either when a teammate has it or is going for it, or if the ball is about to bounce through the goal or out of bounds.

Translations