WordWeb Online

1. Removing by cutting off or clipping

1. Cut to the desired shape or thickness using shears
   "shear hedges"
    
2. Shave the wool from
   "shear sheep"
   - fleece
    
3. Cut or cut through with shears
   "shear the wool off the lamb"
    
4. Become deformed by forces tending to produce a shearing strain

Derived forms: shearings

See also: shearer, shears

Type of: change, clip, crop, cut, cut back, cutting, cutting off, dress, lop, prune, shave, snip, trim

Encyclopedia: Shear