shim
Noun: 1. A thin, often tapered piece of material: A shim is a thin wedge, sliver, or spacer made of wood, metal, plastic, or stone. Its primary purpose is to fill a small gap, adjust the fit, or align parts by being driven or inserted into a crevice or space between objects.
A shim is used to make precise adjustments to the position, level, or alignment of an object. It is a tool for fine-tuning in construction, machinery, and carpentry. * As a tool for leveling: To make an object horizontal or stable. * The carpenter used a few metal shims under the leg of the wobbly table to make it level. * As a spacer for alignment: To fill a gap between two components for a proper fit. * A thin plastic shim was inserted between the gear and the housing to eliminate excess play. * As a temporary support: To hold an object in place during installation. * They placed wooden shims around the window frame to keep it centered before securing it permanently.
- "To shim" (verb, derived usage): The act of using a shim. This is a back-formation from the noun.
- You may need to shim the mounting bracket to get the angle right.
- In computing (slang/jargon): Refers to a small piece of code or data used as a compatibility layer or temporary fix between different software components. This is a metaphorical extension of the original meaning.
- The developers created a software shim to allow the old application to run on the new operating system.
- Shimmy (verb): While not a direct variant, this word is sometimes confused due to similar sound. "To shimmy" means to shake, vibrate, or dance. It is unrelated to the tool "shim."
- Shimmed (adjective): Describes an object that has had shims installed.
- The shimmed door frame was perfectly plumb.
- Wedge: A piece of material thick at one end and tapering to a thin edge, used for splitting, tightening, or securing. (A shim is a specific type of thin wedge used for filling and adjustment.)
- Spacer: A general term for any object used to create or maintain a gap.
- Filler: Something used to fill a cavity or gap.
- Chock: A wedge or block placed against a wheel to prevent movement. (More specific to immobilization than fine adjustment.)
- Shim up: To raise, level, or adjust something by inserting shims beneath it.
- We had to shim up the entire foundation to correct the slope.
- There are no common idioms that use the word "shim" in its literal sense. Its metaphorical use in computing ("software shim") functions as technical jargon rather than an idiom.
- a thin wedge of material (wood or metal or stone) for driving into crevices