shear
//ʃɪər//
Verb
shearInfinitive
shearPresent tense
shearedPast tense
shornPast participle
shearingPresent participle
shearsThird-person singular
1
To cut the wool off a sheep or other animal.
The farmer shears his sheep every spring.
2
To cut or clip something with shears or a similar instrument.
She sheared the hedge into a neat shape.
3
To break off or cause to break off due to a structural strain.
The bolt sheared off under the heavy load.
Noun
1
A cutting tool with two blades, similar to scissors but typically larger.
The gardener used shears to trim the hedges.
2
A strain produced by pressure in the structure of a substance, causing layers to slide over each other.
The earthquake caused significant shear in the building's foundation.