noun
shim
shihm
noun
1
A thin piece of material used to fill a gap, level a surface, or provide support.
"He slid a shim under the table leg to stop it wobbling."
2
In computing, a small piece of code that sits between two systems to make them compatible.
"The library uses a shim to support older browsers."
verb
1
To fit a thin piece of material into a gap for support or alignment.
"The carpenter shimmed the door frame so it would close properly."
How to Use Shim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin wedge used to fill a small gap — or, in software, a small patch that lets two things work together.
Common pairings
a wooden shim
shim the gap
Word Forms
shimmed past tense, shims plural, shims plural, Shims plural, shims singular
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Fill the Gap
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He slid a _____ under the table leg to stop it wobbling.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, possibly from Kent dialect; originally referred to a piece of iron on a plough, later to thin wedges of wood or metal.