Shear

Quick meaning: Shear is a verb meaning (intransitive, transitive) To remove the fleece from (a sheep, llama, etc.) by clipping.

Meaning

(intransitive, transitive) To remove the fleece from (a sheep, llama, etc.) by clipping.

More Meanings

1. To cut the hair of (a person).
2. To cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.
3. (physics) To deform because of forces pushing in opposite directions.
4. (aviation, meteorology, intransitive, of wind) To change in direction or speed.
5. (mining, intransitive) To make a vertical cut in coal.
6. (engineering) (also 'shear off') To break or suddenly separate because of excessive force, eg. a bolt.
7. (mathematics) To transform by displacing every point in a direction parallel to some given line by a distance proportional to the point’s distance from the line.

Example Sentences

shear the llamas

shear the afro off someone's head

the golden tresses […] were shorn away

short of their wool, and naked from the shear

Word Forms

• shears
• shearing
• sheared

Synonyms for shear

Depending on context, synonyms include fleece, shears.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include fleece, mow, cutting, clip, unstow, climate.

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