Hypertext Webster Gateway: "shearing"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Shear \Shear\, v. t. [imp. {Sheared}or {Shore};p. p. {Sheared}
or {Shorn}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shearing}.] [OE. sheren,
scheren, to shear, cut, shave, AS. sceran, scieran, scyran;
akin to D. & G. scheren, Icel. skera, Dan. ski?re, Gr. ???.
Cf. {Jeer}, {Score}, {Shard}, {Share}, {Sheer} to turn
aside.]
1. To cut, clip, or sever anything from with shears or a like
instrument; as, to shear sheep; to shear cloth.

Note: It is especially applied to the cutting of wool from
sheep or their skins, and the nap from cloth.

2. To separate or sever with shears or a similar instrument;
to cut off; to clip (something) from a surface; as, to
shear a fleece.

Before the golden tresses . . . were shorn away.
--Shak.

3. To reap, as grain. [Scot.] --Jamieson.

4. Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece.

5. (Mech.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See
{Shear}, n., 4.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Shearing \Shear"ing\, n.
1. The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing
machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth.

2. The product of the act or operation of clipping with
shears or a shearing machine; as, the whole shearing of a
flock; the shearings from cloth.

3. Same as {Shearling}. --Youatt.

4. The act or operation of reaping. [Scot.]

5. The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the
shearing of metal plates.

6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.

7. (Mining) The process of making a vertical side cutting in
working into a face of coal.

{Shearing machine}.
(a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing
plates or bars of metal.
(b) A machine for shearing cloth.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

shearing
n : removing by cutting off or clipping


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