Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shred \Shred\, n. [OE. shrede, schrede, AS. scre['a]de; akin to
   OD. schroode, G. schrot a piece cut off, Icel. skrjo[eth]r a
   shred, and to E. shroud. Cf. {Screed}, {Scroll}, {Scrutiny}.]
   1. A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip. ``Shreds of
      tanned leather.'' --Bacon.

   2. In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle. --Shak.

Shred \Shred\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shred} or {Shredded}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Shredding}.] [OE. shreden, schreden, AS.
   scre['a]dian; akin to OD. schrooden, OHG. scr?tan, G.
   schroten. See {Shred}, n.]
   1. To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and
      long pieces, as of cloth or leather. --Chaucer.

   2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [Obs.]

Shred \Shred\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shred} or {Shredded}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Shredding}.] [OE. shreden, schreden, AS.
   scre['a]dian; akin to OD. schrooden, OHG. scr?tan, G.
   schroten. See {Shred}, n.]
   1. To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and
      long pieces, as of cloth or leather. --Chaucer.

   2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [Obs.]

Source : WordNet®

shred
     n 1: a tiny or scarcely detectable amount [syn: {scintilla}, {whit},
           {iota}, {tittle}, {smidgen}, {smidgeon}, {smidgin}, {smidge}]
     2: a small piece of cloth or paper [syn: {rag}, {tag}, {tag end},
         {tatter}]
     v : tear into shreds [syn: {tear up}, {rip up}]
     [also: {shredding}, {shredded}]