# Sheets

/ˈʃits/ (US) · /ʃˈiːts/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sheets
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. bedding

noun · CEFR A2

large pieces of cloth that you put on a bed to sleep on.

For teachers: large rectangular pieces of fabric, typically cotton or linen, used as bedding.

- I need to change the sheets on the guest bed before our friends arrive.
- The hotel prides itself on using high-thread-count cotton sheets to ensure maximum comfort for its guests.

Usage: Usually used in the plural when referring to the set of bedding.

### 2. paper

noun · CEFR A2

flat pieces of paper used for writing or printing.

For teachers: distinct pieces of paper, typically of a standard size, used for documentation or correspondence.

- He handed out several sheets of paper for the students to take notes.
- The clerk organized the loose sheets into a coherent file before submitting the report to the director.

### 3. heavy rain

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

very heavy rain that looks like a solid wall of water.

For teachers: heavy precipitation falling in such density that it appears as continuous layers or surfaces.

- The rain was coming down in sheets, so we couldn't see the road.
- The tropical storm intensified quickly, with rain falling in sheets that reduced visibility to near zero within minutes.

Usage: Almost always used in the prepositional phrase 'in sheets'.

### 4. flat layers

noun · CEFR B1

large, thin, flat pieces of a material like metal, glass, or ice.

For teachers: broad, relatively thin layers or pieces of a solid substance.

- Workers covered the roof with large sheets of corrugated metal.
- The glaciologist explained how vast sheets of ice have shaped the topography of the northern continent over millennia.

### 5. to cover or fall heavily

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to cover something with a layer, or for rain to fall very heavily.

For teachers: to cover with or as if with a sheet; also used to describe rain falling in a continuous flow.

- The rain sheets against the window during the autumn storms.
- Water sheets across the marble terrace whenever the fountain overflows, creating a hazardous, slippery surface.

## Examples

- I need to change the sheets on my bed today.
- The hotel staff provides fresh cotton sheets for every new guest who checks into the room.
- High-quality sheets with a high thread count offer a smoother texture and better durability than cheaper synthetic alternatives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.