Shy | Mean of shy in English Dictionary

/ˈʃaɪ/

• feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people
1. a shy, quiet girl
2. I was painfully shy as a teenager.
3. She was too shy to ask for help.
• showing that you are nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people
1. her shy manner
2. He gave her a shy smile.
• tending to avoid something because of nervousness, fear, dislike, etc.
1. publicity shy
2. camera shy
3. He was never shy of controversy.

• hesitant about taking what you want or need
1. Help yourself if you want more. Don't be shy.
• easily frightened
1. animals that are nocturnal and shy
• having less than a full or expected amount or number
1. We were shy about 10 dollars.
2. He was two weeks shy of his 19th birthday when he joined the army.
3. The ball stopped just a few inches shy of the hole.
4. He's three credits shy of his bachelor's degree.
• to try to avoid something
1. She has always fought shy of publicity.
• Verb
• to move away from something because of fear
1. The horse shied when the gun went off.
• to try to avoid (something) because of nervousness, fear, dislike, etc.
1. They never shied from publicity.
2. She shies away from making any predictions.
3. He shied away from discussing his divorce.