shear
/ʃɪɚ/ verb C1- To remove the fleece from (a sheep, llama, etc.) by clipping. · shear the llamas
- To cut the hair of (a person). · shear the afro off someone's head
- To cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.
- To deform because of forces pushing in opposite directions.
- To change in direction or speed.
- 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.
- To make a vertical cut in coal.
- (also 'shear off') To break or suddenly separate because of excessive force, eg. a bolt.
He/she/it shears · Past sheared · Past participle shorn · -ing form shearing
Verb forms
- Base form
- shear
- He/she/it
- shears
- Past
- sheared
- Past participle
- shorn
- -ing form
- shearing
An irregular verb: learn its past and past participle by heart.
From the library
At shearing time, wishing to take his fleece and to avoid expense, she sheared him herself, but used the shears so unskillfully that with the fleece she sheared the flesh.
If you want my flesh, there is the butcher, who will kill me in an instant; but if you want my fleece and wool, there is the shearer, who will shear and not hurt me.”
So Oz brought a pair of tinsmith’s shears and cut a small, square hole in the left side of the Tin Woodman’s breast.
The Cæsar’s pageant shorn of Brutus’ bust Did but of Rome’s best son remind her more,
Other matches
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