shedding
脱皮
解説 Definition
「shedding」は、動物が皮膚・毛・羽・殻などを自然に脱ぎ捨てることを指します。蛇の脱皮や動物の換毛期など、生物が古い組織を取り替える自然なプロセスを表します。また、比喩的に不要なものを取り除くという意味でも使われます。
The natural process in which an animal loses and replaces skin, fur, feathers, or another outer covering. The term can also describe plants dropping leaves or the figurative removal of something no longer needed.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
shedding は shed「落とす・脱ぎ捨てる」に -ing が付いた形と見ると覚えやすいです。ヘビが古い皮を体から離す、犬や猫の毛が自然に抜ける、鳥の羽が生え替わる、というように「古いものが体から離れて落ちる」動きが中心です。単なる change ではなく、skin, fur, feathers などを外へ捨てる感じ。比喩では不要なものを手放す意味にもなりますが、この語義では生き物の脱皮・脱落をまず押さえます。
Connect shedding with the base verb shed, meaning “to let something fall off” or “to cast it away.” In shedding, the final d is doubled before -ing, and the form is pronounced /ˈʃedɪŋ/. Picture an old outer layer separating naturally from a living thing: a snake sheds its skin, a dog sheds fur, and a bird sheds feathers. Trees can also shed leaves. This is more specific than simply changing; it highlights something leaving the body or surface. The same image supports figurative uses such as shedding unnecessary costs, habits, or responsibilities.
例文
The snake was shedding its skin on the warm rock.
ヘビは温かい岩の上で脱皮していました。
My dog has been shedding a lot of fur this spring.
今年の春、私の犬はとても毛が抜けています。
The tree began shedding its leaves as autumn arrived.
秋が来ると木は葉を落とし始めました。
shedding の類義語・関連語
shedding の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 scēadan（分離する、分ける）が語源。ゲルマン祖語 *skaiþaną に遡り「切り離す」が原義。皮・毛・羽などが体から「切り離される」ことから、shedding は脱皮・脱落の意に。関連語: shed（小屋）は別語源だが、watershed（分水嶺）の shed は同根で「水を分ける」の意。
Shedding is formed from shed and -ing, with the final consonant doubled. The verb shed comes from Old English scēadan, meaning “to separate, divide, or distinguish,” and ultimately from a Germanic root with the idea of separation. The sense of skin, hair, feathers, or leaves becoming detached developed naturally from that core meaning. The noun shed meaning a small building has a different historical origin, while shed in watershed preserves the older notion of division.
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