v.
Function: noun
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : a cutting implement similar or identical to a pair of scissors but typically larger ― usually used in plural (2) : one blade of a pair of shears b : any of various cutting tools or machines operating by the action of opposed cutting edges of metal ― usually used in plural c (1) : something resembling a shear or a pair of shears (2) : a hoisting apparatus consisting of two or sometimes more upright spars fastened together at their upper ends and having tackle for masting or dismasting ships or lifting heavy loads (as guns) ― usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
2 chiefly British : the action or process or an instance of shearing ― used in combination to indicate the approximate age of sheep in terms of shearings undergone
3 a : internal force tangential to the section on which it acts ― called also shearing force b : an action or stress resulting from applied forces that causes or tends to cause two contiguous parts of a body to slide relatively to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact