adjective
/ˈʃaɪ/ shier or shyer /ˈʃajɚ/; shiest or shyest /ˈʃajəst/
[also more ~; most ~]
feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people
showing that you are nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people
tending to avoid something because of nervousness, fear, dislike, etc.
hesitant about taking what you want or need
of an animal :easily frightened :timid
chiefly US :having less than a full or expected amount or number :short
usually + of
fight shy of
Brit :to try to avoid something
once bitten, twice shy
verb
shies; shied; shying
[no obj] :to move away from something because of fear
shy from
US or shy away from [phrasal verb]
shy from (something) (US) or shy away from (something) :to try to avoid (something) because of nervousness, fear, dislike, etc.