1. Absolute, complete, or utter:
* Sheer joy: This means complete and unadulterated joy.
* Sheer nonsense: This means something is completely ridiculous or nonsensical.
* Sheer luck: This means someone was extremely fortunate.
2. Thin and transparent:
* Sheer curtains: These are curtains made from a very thin, almost transparent fabric.
* Sheer stockings: These are stockings made from a thin, see-through material.
3. Very steep or almost vertical:
* The sheer cliff face: This means the cliff is very steep and almost straight up and down.
* The sheer drop: This means a sudden and very steep drop.
4. Unbroken and continuous:
* The sheer wall of the building: This means the wall of the building has no breaks or gaps.
5. Pure and unmixed:
* Sheer willpower: This means someone has a strong will and determination, unmixed with any other influences.
The specific meaning of "sheer" will be clear from the context of the sentence or phrase it's used in.