shy
shy /ʃ'aɪ/ (shyer shyest shies shying shied)
1 [ADJ]
A shy person is nervous and uncomfortable in the company of other people.
She was a shy and retiring person off-stage...
He is painfully shy of women.
● shyly [ADV] usu ADV with v
The children smiled shyly.
● shyness [N-UNCOUNT]
Eventually he overcame his shyness.
2 [ADJ] oft ADJ of -ing
If you are shy of doing something, you are unwilling to do it because you are afraid of what might happen.
You should not be shy of having your say in the running of the school.
3 [VERB] V
When a horse shies, it moves away suddenly, because something has frightened it.
Llewelyn's stallion shied as the wind sent sparks flying.
4 [PREP-PHRASE]
A number or amount that is just shy of another number or amount is just under it.
...a high-school dropout rate just shy of 53%...
= short of
1 [ADJ]
A shy person is nervous and uncomfortable in the company of other people.
She was a shy and retiring person off-stage...
He is painfully shy of women.
● shyly [ADV] usu ADV with v
The children smiled shyly.
● shyness [N-UNCOUNT]
Eventually he overcame his shyness.
2 [ADJ] oft ADJ of -ing
If you are shy of doing something, you are unwilling to do it because you are afraid of what might happen.
You should not be shy of having your say in the running of the school.
3 [VERB] V
When a horse shies, it moves away suddenly, because something has frightened it.
Llewelyn's stallion shied as the wind sent sparks flying.
4 [PREP-PHRASE]
A number or amount that is just shy of another number or amount is just under it.
...a high-school dropout rate just shy of 53%...
= short of