'Shear' definitions:

Definition of 'shear'

(from WordNet)
noun
(physics) a deformation of an object in which parallel planes remain parallel but are shifted in a direction parallel to themselves; "the shear changed the quadrilateral into a parallelogram"
noun
A large edge tool that cuts sheet metal by passing a blade through it
verb
Cut with shears; "shear hedges"
verb
Shear the wool from; "shear sheep" [syn: fleece, shear]
verb
Cut or cut through with shears; "shear the wool off the lamb"
verb
Become deformed by forces tending to produce a shearing strain

Definition of 'Shear'

From: GCIDE
  • Shear \Shear\, v. i.
  • 1. To deviate. See Sheer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Engin.) To become more or less completely divided, as a body under the action of forces, by the sliding of two contiguous parts relatively to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Shear'

From: GCIDE
  • Shear \Shear\, n. [AS. sceara. See Shear, v. t.]
  • 1. A pair of shears; -- now always used in the plural, but formerly also in the singular. See Shears. [1913 Webster]
  • On his head came razor none, nor shear. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Short of the wool, and naked from the shear. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A shearing; -- used in designating the age of sheep. [1913 Webster]
  • After the second shearing, he is a two-shear ram; . . . at the expiration of another year, he is a three-shear ram; the name always taking its date from the time of shearing. --Youatt. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Engin.) An action, resulting from applied forces, which tends to cause two contiguous parts of a body to slide relatively to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact; -- also called shearing stress, and tangential stress. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mech.) A strain, or change of shape, of an elastic body, consisting of an extension in one direction, an equal compression in a perpendicular direction, with an unchanged magnitude in the third direction. [1913 Webster]
  • Shear blade, one of the blades of shears or a shearing machine.
  • Shear hulk. See under Hulk.
  • Shear steel, a steel suitable for shears, scythes, and other cutting instruments, prepared from fagots of blistered steel by repeated heating, rolling, and tilting, to increase its malleability and fineness of texture. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Shear'

From: GCIDE
  • Shear \Shear\ (sh[=e]r), v. t. [imp. Shearedor Shore;p. p. Sheared or Shorn; p. pr. & vb. n. Shearing.] [OE. sheren, scheren, to shear, cut, shave, AS. sceran, scieran, scyran; akin to D. & G. scheren, Icel. skera, Dan. ski?re, Gr. ???. Cf. Jeer, Score, Shard, Share, Sheer to turn aside.]
  • 1. To cut, clip, or sever anything from with shears or a like instrument; as, to shear sheep; to shear cloth. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: It is especially applied to the cutting of wool from sheep or their skins, and the nap from cloth. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To separate or sever with shears or a similar instrument; to cut off; to clip (something) from a surface; as, to shear a fleece. [1913 Webster]
  • Before the golden tresses . . . were shorn away. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To reap, as grain. [Scot.] --Jamieson. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Mech.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See Shear, n., 4. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'shear'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Shear'