Shed, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Shed; p. pr. & vb. n.Shedding.] [OE. scheden, sch�den, to pour, to part, AS. scādan, sceádan, to pert, to separate; akin to OS. sk��an, OFries. sk�tha, G. scheiden, OHG. sceidan, Goth. skaidan, and probably to Lith. skëdu I part, separate, L. scindere to cleave, to split, Gr. ���, Skr. chid, and perch. also to L. caedere to cut. √159. Cf. Chisel, Concise, Schism, Sheading, Sheath, Shide.] 1. To separate; to divide. Robert of Brunne.
2. To part with; to throw off or give forth from one's self; to emit; to diffuse; to cause to emanate or flow; to pour forth or out; to spill; as, the sun sheds light; she shed tears; the clouds shed rain.
Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? Shak.
Twice seven consenting years have shed
Their utmost bounty on thy head. Wordsworth.
3. To let fall; to throw off, as a natural covering of hair, feathers, shell; to cast; as, fowls shed their feathers; serpents shed their skins; trees shed leaves.
4. To cause to flow off without penetrating; as, a tight roof, or covering of oiled cloth, sheeds water.
5. To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover. “Her hair... is shed with gray.” B. Jonson.
6. (Weaving) To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.