What does SHEAR mean?

shear

Parts of Speech: verb, noun

Definitions:

1. (verb) to cut the wool off a sheep or other animal with a special tool called shears
2. (verb) to cut or clip something with scissors or a similar tool
3. (noun) a cutting tool used to remove wool from sheep or other animals
4. (noun) a machine used to cut metal or other materials into a specific shape

Pronunciations:

• US: /ʃɪr/
• UK: /ʃɪə(r)/

Origin and Usage:

The word "shear" comes from the Old English word "scearian," which means "to cut." It has been used in English since the 14th century. The verb form is often used in the context of cutting wool from sheep, but it can also be used more broadly to refer to cutting or clipping anything with scissors or a similar tool. The noun form typically refers to a tool used for cutting wool or a machine used for cutting metal.

Synonyms:

• clip
• cut
• snip
• trim

Related Words:

• sheaf
• shear
• sheen
• sheep
• sheer

Example Sentences:

• The farmer had to shear his sheep before the summer heat set in.
• The hairdresser used her scissors to shear off the customers long hair.
• The sheep shearing competition was held at the county fair.
• The metal fabricator used a shear to cut the sheet metal into the desired shape