shear
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.”
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.
Don't confuse with "sheer," which means thin/transparent or a steep drop — the two are pronounced identically but spelled and used differently.
Word forms
sheared past tense, shore past tense, shorn past tense, shears plural, Shears plural, shears singular
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.