Shear definitions

shîr
To shear is to cut something or have something cut off.

When you shave a sheep, this is an example of shear.

An example of shear is when you have your hair cut off.

verb
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To remove (fleece or hair) by cutting or clipping.
verb
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To remove the hair or fleece from.
verb
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To cut with or as if with shears.

Shearing a hedge.

verb
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To divest or deprive as if by cutting.

The prisoners were shorn of their dignity.

verb
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To use a cutting tool such as shears.
verb
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To move or proceed by or as if by cutting.

Shear through the wheat.

verb
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To become deformed by shear force.
verb
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The act, process, or result of shearing, especially when used to indicate a sheep's age.

A two-shear ram.

noun
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Something cut off by shearing.
noun
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An apparatus used to lift heavy weights, consisting of two or more spars joined at the top and spread at the base, the tackle being suspended from the top.
noun
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A pair of scissors.
noun
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Any of various implements or machines that cut with a scissorlike action.
noun
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To cut with shears or a similar sharp-edged instrument.
verb
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To tear or wrench (off) by shearing stress.
verb
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To move through as if cutting.
verb
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To strip or divest (someone) of a power, right, etc.
verb
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To reap with a sickle.
verb
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To remove (the hair, wool, etc.) by cutting or clipping.
verb
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To cut or clip the hair, wool, etc. from.
verb
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To come apart or break under the action of shearing stress.
verb
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To move by or as if by cutting.
verb
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To use a cutting tool, as shears, in trimming or cutting wool, shrubbery, metal, etc.
verb
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To use a sickle in reaping.
verb
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A machine used in cutting metal, esp. sheet metal.
noun
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The action, process, or result of shearing; specif., the shearing of wool from an animal.

A sheep of three shears.

noun
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A single blade of a pair of shears.
noun
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Any strain or distortion in shape resulting from the action of shearing stress.
noun
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A force, movement or pressure applied to an object perpendicular to a given axis, with greater value on one side of the axis than the other.
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To cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.
verb
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To remove the fleece from a sheep etc by clipping.
verb
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(physics) To deform because of shearing forces.
verb
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(Scotland) To reap, as grain.

verb
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(figuratively) To deprive of property; to fleece.
verb
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A cutting tool similar to scissors, but often larger.
noun
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The act of shearing, or something removed by shearing.
noun
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(physics) A force that produces a shearing strain.
noun
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(geology) The response of a rock to deformation usually by compressive stress, resulting in particular textures.
noun
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Common misspelling of sheer.
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Origin of shear

From Middle English sheren, from Old English scieran, from Proto-Germanic *skeranÄ…, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut"). Cognate with West Frisian skeare, Low German scheren, Dutch scheren, German scheren, Danish skære, Norwegian skjære, Swedish skära; and (from Indo-European) with Ancient Greek κείρω (keirō, “I cut off"), Latin caro (“flesh"), Albanian harr (“to cut, to mow"), Lithuanian skìrti (“separate"), Welsh ysgar (“separate"). See also sharp.

Sentence Examples

  • The look of shear fury on his face replaced her anger with fear.

  • The distribution of shear is given by the partially shaded rectangles.

  • The shear lust in them left her wishing he had looked elsewhere.

  • The shaded rectangles represent the distribution of shear due to the load at C, while no may be termed the datum line of shear.

  • x near the middle of the girder the shear changes sign, according as the load advances from the left or the right.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near shear in the Dictionary