Shred

shred
    n 1: a tiny or scarcely detectable amount [syn: {shred},
         {scintilla}, {whit}, {iota}, {tittle}, {smidgen},
         {smidgeon}, {smidgin}, {smidge}]
    2: a small piece of cloth or paper [syn: {rag}, {shred}, {tag},
       {tag end}, {tatter}]
    v 1: tear into shreds [syn: {shred}, {tear up}, {rip up}]
    

Shred \Shred\, n. [OE. shrede, schrede, AS. scre['a]de; akin to
   OD. schroode, G. schrot a piece cut off, Icel. skrjo[eth]r a
   shred, and to E. shroud. Cf. {Screed}, {Scroll}, {Scrutiny}.]
   1. A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip. "Shreds of
      tanned leather." --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Shred \Shred\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shred} or {Shredded}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Shredding}.] [OE. shreden, schreden, AS.
   scre['a]dian; akin to OD. schrooden, OHG. scr?tan, G.
   schroten. See {Shred}, n.]
   1. To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and
      long pieces, as of cloth or leather. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]
    

152 Moby Thesaurus words for "shred":
      Mystik tape, Scotch tape, abrade, adhesive tape, atom, atomize,
      band, bandage, batten, beat, belt, bit, bray, brecciate, butt,
      cellophane tape, chip, chunk, clip, clipping, cloth tape, collop,
      comminute, contriturate, crumb, crumble, crush, cut, cutting,
      defoliate, demolish, denude, destroy, disintegrate, dismember,
      dispose of, dollop, draw and quarter, end, fascia, filament,
      fillet, flay, flour, fragment, friction tape, gin, girdle, gob,
      gobbet, grain, granulate, granulize, grate, grind, grind to powder,
      hint, hunk, iota, jot, lacerate, lath, levigate, ligula, ligule,
      list, lota, lump, maim, mangle, mash, masking tape, mill, modicum,
      moiety, morceau, morsel, mutilate, nip, ounce, paring, particle,
      patch, peel, pestle, pick to pieces, piece, plank, plastic tape,
      pound, powder, pull apart, pulverize, rag, rasher, ray,
      reduce to powder, remnant, ribband, ribbon, scintilla, scoop,
      scrap, scrunch, shard, shave, shaving, shiver, skin, slat, slice,
      slip, sliver, smash, smidgen, smithereen, snack, snatch, snick,
      snip, snippet, speck, spill, spin, spline, splinter, squash,
      stitch, strake, strap, strip, strop, stump, suggestion, taenia,
      tag, take apart, tape, tape measure, tapeline, tatter, tear apart,
      tear to pieces, tear to tatters, tear up, throw away, ticker tape,
      tittle, trace, trash, triturate, whit