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shear

30 ENTRIES FOUND:

1shear

verb \ˈshir\
shearedsheared or shorn\ˈshrn\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

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