shim
/ʃɪm
/noun
A washer or thin strip of material used to align parts, make them fit, or reduce wear: an aluminium shim reduces the diameter so that a standard stem will fit...
- For European style cabinets, adjustments to the guides will typically need to be done by inserting thin shims between the guides and the cabinet and/or the drawer.
- If it were an older refrigerator I would be worried about the nylon shims under the doors wearing down but you shouldn't have to, just make sure to put them back where they came from.
- Once you get the jamb aligned put shims between the jamb and stud opening, being careful not to bow the jamb into the opening.
verb (shims, shimming, shimmed) [with object]
Wedge (something) or fill up (a space) with a shim: display monitors were shimmed up on cardboard you may have to shim the tube...
- Blades with tilted heel or sole plates should also be avoided; however, by shimming them this can be corrected for when they are mounted.
- The contractor sets the screed rails or side forms, often shimming them during strike-off 1/2 to 3/4 inch higher than the final surface elevation to allow for compaction later with rollers.
- Bodges are usually temporary, but not always - for example, fitting a nonstandard part by filing it down or shimming it could legitimately described as a bodge.
Origin
Early 18th century: of unknown origin.
Rhymes
- beforeness
- before one can (or has time to) draw breath
- before one can say Jack Robinson
- before one knows where one is (or before one knows it)
- before (or after) the fact
- before (or in front of or under) one's (very) eyes
- before (or since) the rinderpest
- beforesaid
- before-tax
- before the mast
- before the wind
- before time
- beforetimes
- before you can say knife
- before–after
- be for it
- be for (or all for) the best
- be for the high jump
- befoul
- be fresh out of
- befriend
- be frightened of one's shadow
- be frightened (or scared) out of one's wits
- befuddle
- befuddlement