Shred/ʃred/ Definition 1 of 5Pro Tip 1/3Physical Action Visualize the act of physically tearing something apart with hands or tools. Shred those old bank statements. Pro Tip 2/3Privacy Protection Shredding is often done to protect privacy by destroying personal info. Remember to shred your receipts. Pro Tip 3/3Complete Destruction Use 'shred' when you mean completely destroying something into small pieces. Shred the evidence thoroughly.