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shear

shear

 
 
pronunciation:
shir
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Homophone Note, Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: shears, shearing, sheared, shorn
definition 1: to cut off (hair or fleece) with a scissorlike tool.
His curly locks were soon shorn.
definition 2: to trim the fleece or hair from.
The farmers are shearing their sheep.
definition 3: to move through (air or water) as if by cutting.
similar words:
cleave
definition 4: to take something away from; divest.
They sheared him of his rights.
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to cut something with shears.
definition 2: to come apart or break in layers.
Those shingles could shear off.
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part of speech: noun
definition: structural strain in a substance or body caused by parallel layers shifting against one another in opposite directions.
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derivation: shearer (n.)
Homophone Note
Are you looking for the word sheer? Shear and sheer sound alike but have different meanings.
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  farm, hair, tool