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shy

1 shy /ˈʃaɪ/ adjective
shier or shyer /ˈʃajɚ/ ; shiest or shyest /ˈʃajəst/
1 shy
/ˈʃaɪ/
adjective
shier or shyer /ˈʃajɚ/ ; shiest or shyest /ˈʃajəst/
Britannica Dictionary definition of SHY
[also more shy; most shy]
: 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. often + of
: 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

British
: to try to avoid something

once bitten, twice shy

see 1bite

— shyness

noun [noncount]
2 shy /ˈʃaɪ/ verb
shies; shied; shying
2 shy
/ˈʃaɪ/
verb
shies; shied; shying
Britannica Dictionary definition of SHY
[no object]
: to move away from something because of fear

shy from

(US) [phrasal verb] or shy away from
shy from (something) (US) or shy away from (something)
: to try to avoid (something) because of nervousness, fear, dislike, etc.