Shredding refers to a guitar playing style where technical proficiency is the major goal. It is a term that is most often connected to the music style of Neoclassical Rock. Tony MacAlpine, Yngwie Malmsteen, Chris Impellitteri and Michael Angelo are considered to be examples of first class shredders in this genre.
This playing style has become popular in other music styles as well. Progressive Rock and Jazz rock have adapted the style successfully. Greg Howe and Steve Vai are two examples of shredding jazz rock players. Ed Van Halen and Joe Becker are two really good examples of shredding blues rock players. Greg Howe is able to use guitar techniques that no one else, to this day, has been able to copy. Allan Holdsworth (originally a member of Soft Machine) could be considered as another example of an outstanding shredder.
When guitarists such as Holdsworth played technically difficult pieces during the 1970s, the term "shredding" had not been invented. However virtuoso playing from that era is also dubbed "shredding". Therefore, one could say that "shredding" was invented long before the specific term for it arose.
Shredding also refers to a tree pruning technique mainly used in Europe.
