shear
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- 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
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definition 4: |
to take something away from; divest.
They sheared him of his rights. |
related words: |
barber, clip, crop, cut, top, trim |
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part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
definition 1: |
to cut something with shears.
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definition 2: |
to come apart or break in layers.
Those shingles could shear off. |
related words: |
clip, cut |
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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.) |
Are you looking for the word
sheer?
Shear and
sheer sound alike but have different meanings.