Shear

Pronunciation: /ʃɪr/

Definitions of shear

noun a cutting tool used for cutting fabric or hair

Example Sentences

A1 She used a shear to cut the paper.

A2 The farmer used shears to trim the sheep's wool.

B1 The hairdresser recommended using shears for a precise haircut.

B2 The tailor carefully used shears to cut the fabric for the dress.

C1 The metalworker employed industrial shears to cut through thick steel plates.

C2 The sculptor used shears to shape the intricate details of the sculpture.

verb to cut off hair or wool from (an animal)

Example Sentences

A1 Shear the sheep to collect their wool.

A2 The farmer sheared the sheep in the springtime.

B1 The barber sheared off all of the customer's hair.

B2 The gardener sheared the bushes into intricate shapes.

C1 The skilled craftsman sheared the metal with precision.

C2 The master tailor sheared the fabric to create a bespoke suit.

Examples of shear in a Sentence

formal The farmer used a shear to cut the sheep's wool.

informal She used the shear to trim her bangs.

slang I need to shear my hedge before it gets too overgrown.

figurative The economic downturn will shear away profits for the company.

Grammatical Forms of shear

• past tense: sheared
• plural: shears
• comparative: more shear
• superlative: most shear
• present tense: shears
• future tense: will shear
• perfect tense: have sheared
• continuous tense: is shearing
• singular: shear
• positive degree: shear
• infinitive: shear
• gerund: shearing
• participle: shearing

Origin and Evolution of shear

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'shear' originated from Old English sceran, which is related to Dutch scheren and German scheren, all meaning to cut.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'shear' has evolved to not only mean cutting or clipping something with scissors or shears but also to refer to the act of removing wool or fleece from sheep.