shear

¹shear

verb \ˈshir\

shearedsheared or shorn\ˈshȯrn\shear·ing

Definition of SHEAR

transitive verb

1

a : to cut off the hair from b : to cut or clip (as hair or wool) from someone or something; also : to cut something from <shear a lawn> c chiefly Scottish : to reap with a sickle d : to cut or trim with shears or a similar instrument

2

: to cut with something sharp

3

: to deprive of something as if by cutting <lives shorn of any hope — M. W. Browne>

4

a : to subject to a shear force b : to cause (as a rock mass) to move along the plane of contact

intransitive verb

1

: to cut through something with or as if with a sharp instrument

2

chiefly Scottish : to reap crops with a sickle

3

: to become divided under the action of a shear

— shear·er noun

Examples of SHEAR

1. The farmers sheared the sheep.
2. The farmers sheared the wool from the sheep.

Origin of SHEAR

Middle English sheren, from Old English scieran; akin to Old Norse skera to cut, Latin curtus mutilated, curtailed, Greek keirein to cut, shear, Sanskrit kṛnāti he injures

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SHEAR

Synonyms: bob, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, clip, snip, trim

Related Words: skive, whittle; manicure, mow; pinch, stump; curtail, shorten

Near Antonyms: elongate, extend, lengthen

see all synonyms and antonyms

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