Shear(v. i.) To deviate. See Sheer.
Shear(v. i.) 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.
Shear(v. t.) To cut, clip, or sever anything from with shears or a like instrument; as, to shear sheep; to shear cloth.
Shear(v. t.) To separate or sever with shears or a similar instrument; to cut off; to clip (something) from a surface; as, to shear a fleece.
Shear(v. t.) To reap, as grain.
Shear(v. t.) Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece.
Shear(v. t.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See Shear, n., 4.
Shear(v. t.) A pair of shears; -- now always used in the plural, but formerly also in the singular. See Shears.
Shear(v. t.) A shearing; -- used in designating the age of sheep.
Shear(v. t.) 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.
Shear(v. t.) 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.
Sheared(imp.) of Shear
Sheared(p. p.) of Shear
Shearing(n.) The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth.
Shearing(n.) The product of the act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing machine; as, the whole shearing of a flock; the shearings from cloth.
Shearing(n.) Same as Shearling.
Shearing(n.) The act or operation of reaping.
Shearing(n.) The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the shearing of metal plates.
Shearing(n.) The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.
Shearing(n.) The process of making a vertical side cutting in working into a face of coal.
Shearing(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Shear
Shears(n.) A cutting instrument.
Shears(n.) An instrument consisting of two blades, commonly with bevel edges, connected by a pivot, and working on both sides of the material to be cut, -- used for cutting cloth and other substances.
Shears(n.) A similar instrument the blades of which are extensions of a curved spring, -- used for shearing sheep or skins.
Shears(n.) A shearing machine; a blade, or a set of blades, working against a resisting edge.
Shears(n.) Anything in the form of shears.
Shears(n.) A pair of wings.
Shears(n.) An apparatus for raising heavy weights, and especially for stepping and unstepping the lower masts of ships. It consists of two or more spars or pieces of timber, fastened together near the top, steadied by a guy or guys, and furnished with the necessary tackle.
Shears(n.) The bedpiece of a machine tool, upon which a table or slide rest is secured; as, the shears of a lathe or planer. See Illust. under Lathe.

Words within shear