v. & n.
v. (past sheared, archaic except Austral. & NZ shore; past part. shorn or sheared) 1 tr. cut with scissors or shears etc. 2 tr. remove or take off by cutting. 3 tr. clip the wool off (a sheep etc.). 4 tr. (foll. by of) a strip bare. b deprive. 5 tr. & intr. (often foll. by off) distort or be distorted, or break, from a structural strain.
n. 1 Mech. & Geol. a strain produced by pressure in the structure of a substance, when its layers are laterally shifted in relation to each other. 2 (in pl.) (also pair of shears sing.) a large clipping or cutting instrument shaped like scissors for use in gardens etc. shearer n.
[ OE sceran f. Gmc ]