Definition

A machine that cuts paper or other materials into small pieces, usually to keep information safe.

Example

I used the shredder to destroy old documents that contained personal information.

Conversation

I finally bought a new shredder for my home office.

That's great! It's really important for keeping documents secure.

Yeah, I had so many papers lying around that I needed to get rid of.

A shredder is definitely the best way to do that safely.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Shredder → It is formed from "shred" (from Old English *scræd*, meaning a piece or fragment) and "-er" (meaning a person or thing that performs an action). A shredder is a device or person that creates shreds or fragments of something.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'shred' as a small piece or fragment, and the '-er' indicates someone or something that does the action — so a shredder is something that makes things into small pieces.

Visually Confused Words