verb
Uncommon
shear
sheer
Shear (verb) means to cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal. Example: “The farmer shears his flock every spring before the weather turns warm.”
verb
1
To cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal.
"The farmer shears his flock every spring before the weather turns warm."
2
To cut through something cleanly, or to break suddenly under sideways force.
"The bolt sheared off under the strain, and the panel came loose."
"Strong winds can shear the branches right off a tree."
noun
1
A force that pushes two parts of an object in opposite, parallel directions.
"Engineers calculate the shear on a beam before deciding how thick it needs to be."
How to use shear
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cut or clip something (classically, a sheep's wool), or the sideways force that causes materials to snap or slide apart.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "sheer," which means thin/transparent or a steep drop — the two are pronounced identically but spelled and used differently.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
shear a sheep
shear force
shear off
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Word forms
- Plural
- shears
- Third person singular
- shears
- Past tense
- sheared, shore, shorn
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmer _____ his flock every spring before the weather turns warm.
Etymology
From Old English sċieran, "to shear or shave," an ancient Germanic word related to "shore" and "shard" through a root meaning "to cut."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shear
See all rhymes for shear →Frequently asked questions
What does “shear” mean?
The word “shear” means to cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal. In plain terms, to cut or clip something (classically, a sheep's wool), or the sideways force that causes materials to snap or slide apart.
How do you pronounce “shear”?
“Shear” is pronounced sheer (/ʃɪɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shear” in a sentence?
Here is “shear” used in a sentence: “The farmer shears his flock every spring before the weather turns warm.”
What part of speech is “shear”?
Depending on how it is used, “shear” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “shear” come from?
The word “shear” comes from Old English. From Old English sċieran, "to shear or shave," an ancient Germanic word related to "shore" and "shard" through a root meaning "to cut.".
Is “shear” a common word?
“Shear” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shear” have?
“Shear” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cut the wool off a sheep or similar animal.
