sheep
sheep
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "sheep" is /ʃiːp/.
sheep:
/ʃiːp/ - The entire word is a single syllable.
/ʃ/ as in "sh" of "shoe"
/iː/ as in "ee" of "bee"
/p/ as in "p" of "pat"
Word Form Variations
The word "sheep" is unusual in that its singular and plural forms are identical.
Singular: sheep
Plural: sheep
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A domesticated ruminant mammal (scientific name: Ovis aries) typically covered with a thick fleece, kept in flocks for its wool, meat, or milk. Sheep are known for their docile nature and are commonly found grazing in pastures.
Synonyms: lamb (young sheep), ewe (female sheep), ram (male sheep)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific animal; however, one could consider predators or animals known for their aggression as conceptual opposites in certain contexts, e.g., "wolf")
Definition 2 (Figurative): A person who is easily led, docile, or unthinkingly follows the crowd. This usage often implies a lack of independent thought or action.
Synonyms: follower, conformist, puppet, drone, herd member
Antonyms: leader, individualist, maverick, nonconformist, rebel
Examples of Use
Books:
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This iconic line from George Orwell's Animal Farm (August 1945) uses "sheep" to represent the easily manipulated masses in the novella's allegorical society.
"Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And doesn't know where to find them." This traditional English nursery rhyme, published in various collections over centuries, uses "sheep" in its literal sense (Mother Goose, c. 1805).
Newspapers:
"Farmers report a healthy lambing season, with thousands of new sheep adding to flocks across the region." (The Guardian)
An opinion piece might declare, "The public are not merely sheep to be led to the slaughter by political rhetoric." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
A headline on a technology blog might read, "Are we just sheep following the latest tech trend?" (Wired.com)
An agricultural news site reported, "New Zealand's sheep farming industry continues to innovate with sustainable practices." (Farmers Weekly)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the animated movie Shaun the Sheep Movie (February 2015), the titular character and his flock are central to the plot, showcasing the literal animal.
Music: The song "Sheep" by Pink Floyd, from their album Animals (January 1977), uses the term metaphorically to criticize unquestioning obedience in society. The lyrics include lines like "Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away / Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air / You better watch out, there may be dogs about / I've looked over the horizon and there's black sheep in the fold."
Television: Documentaries on nature channels often feature segments on "sheep" behavior and their role in ecosystems. (e.g., Planet Earth III, BBC One, October 2023)
Video Games: In games like Minecraft, "sheep" are common passive mobs that can be shorn for wool or used for food. (Mojang Studios, November 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"Don't be a sheep; think for yourself!" (Common idiom heard in discussions about independent thought)
During a conversation about herd mentality, someone might say, "Everyone just followed the first person, like a flock of sheep."
Referring to a large number of people in a crowd, one might hear, "There were sheep everywhere at the concert."
10 Quotes Using Sheep
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This iconic line from George Orwell's Animal Farm (August 1945) uses "sheep" to represent the easily manipulated masses in the novella's allegorical society.
"Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And doesn't know where to find them." (Mother Goose, c. 1805)
"A wolf in sheep's clothing." (Aesop's Fables, c. 6th century BCE)
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11, King James Bible)
"When the sheep are restless, so is the shepherd." (Ancient Proverb)
"Better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life." (Elizabeth Kenny)
"You can lead a sheep to knowledge, but you can't make it think." (Attributed to various sources, often a twist on "you can lead a horse to water")
"The sheep follow the bellwether." (Proverbial saying)
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (Matthew 25:33, King James Bible)
"The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same." (Stendhal, The Red and the Black, 1830)
Etymology
The word "sheep" has a long history in the English language, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
Its journey started in Old English (the language spoken in England before 1066) as "scēap" (pronounced something like "shay-op"). This word referred to the domesticated, woolly animal we know today. What's interesting is that even in Old English, the word for one sheep and many sheep was often the same, which is why we still say "one sheep" and "many sheep" today.
From Old English, "scēap" evolved into "schep" or "sheep" in Middle English (roughly 1150-1500). Over time, the spelling and pronunciation settled into the "sheep" we use now.
So, in short:
First known use and meaning: The word's direct ancestor, "scēap," was used in Old English (before 1150 AD) to mean the specific domesticated animal covered in wool.
Etymological journey: It came from Proto-Germanic (an even older ancestor language to English and German) and has relatives in other Germanic languages like German ("Schaf") and Dutch ("schaap"). The exact origin before Proto-Germanic is a bit of a mystery, but it's a very old word!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sheep
A wolf in sheep's clothing: Someone who appears friendly or harmless but is actually dangerous or deceitful.
Black sheep of the family: A member of a family or group who is considered a disgrace or failure.
Like sheep to the slaughter: Describing people who are easily led into a dangerous or unpleasant situation without resistance.
Counting sheep: A mental exercise used to help fall asleep, typically involving visualizing and counting individual sheep jumping over a fence.
Separate the sheep from the goats: To distinguish the good from the bad, or the worthy from the unworthy.
To follow like sheep: To unthinkingly follow others without questioning or independent thought.
Pull the wool over someone's eyes: To deceive or trick someone (though "wool" here specifically refers to a sheep's fleece).
As meek as a lamb/sheep: Very gentle, mild, and submissive.
Lost sheep: Someone who has gone astray from the group, often in a spiritual or moral sense.
The flock of sheep: A group of followers or easily influenced people.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sheep from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
