shear
C1Technical (engineering, physics), Agricultural/Livestock, Literary/Figurative
Definition
Meaning
To cut or trim wool, hair, or other material with a sharp tool like scissors or shears; to remove by cutting.
In physics/engineering: to break or deform under a sideways or transverse force; to experience structural strain due to opposing parallel forces. Figuratively: to strip, deprive, or remove something completely (e.g., sheared of power).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The past participle 'shorn' is commonly used as an adjective (e.g., a shorn sheep). As a verb, the simple past can be 'sheared' (standard) or, rarely in dialects, 'shore'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. The noun 'shears' (large scissors) is identical. The engineering term 'shear force/stress' is identical. Slight preference in UK for 'shearing' in agricultural contexts.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with sheep shearing as a traditional rural activity. US: Slightly more weighted towards mechanical/engineering contexts, though farming use is also common.
Frequency
Comparatively low frequency in both varieties, but higher in UK in agricultural reporting. The engineering term is equally frequent in technical registers globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] shear [NP] (The farmer sheared the sheep.)[NP] shear [NP] off/from [NP] (The impact sheared the bolt from its housing.)[NP] be shorn of [NP] (He was shorn of his authority.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shear delight (rare, pun on 'sheer')”
- “To be shorn of something (figurative, to be stripped of)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The scandal sheared millions from the company's valuation.'
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, materials science: 'The beam failed due to excessive shear stress.' Also in agricultural studies.
Everyday
Primarily in contexts of haircuts (often humorous) or gardening: 'I'm going to shear this hedge right back.'
Technical
Core term in mechanical engineering (shear modulus, shear wall), meteorology (wind shear), and animal husbandry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They will shear the flock next Tuesday.
- The bolt sheared clean off.
- He felt shorn of all dignity.
American English
- We need to shear the alpacas this spring.
- The hurricane's winds sheared the roof from the house.
- The scandal sheared away his public support.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable (no standard adverbial form).
American English
- Not applicable (no standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- The shorn sheep looked smaller.
- Shear force calculations are critical.
American English
- The shorn fabric was ready for sewing.
- The shear line of the storm is moving east.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The farmer uses big scissors to shear the sheep.
- After being shorn, the sheep looked much thinner.
- The gardener sheared the bushes into neat shapes.
- The mechanic explained that a sheared bolt was the cause of the failure.
- The dictator was finally shorn of his power by the revolution.
- Engineers must account for lateral shear stress in the bridge's design.
- The financial crisis sheared billions from pension funds overnight.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHEep weARing a coat; to SHEAR is to cut that coat OFF. Or: SHEAR STRESS can make metal TEAR.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS CUTTING (Sheared of his power); NATURAL FORCE IS A BLADE (The wind sheared the treetops).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'sheer' (чистый, отвесный). 'Shear' is about cutting.
- The noun 'shears' is plural only (ножницы, специальные большие).
- Past participle 'shorn' is irregular (остриженный, лишённый).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'shear' instead of 'sheer' (e.g., 'a shear drop').
- Using 'sheared' as the adjective instead of 'shorn' (e.g., 'a sheared sheep').
- Treating 'shears' (the tool) as a singular noun (e.g., 'a shear').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'shear' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are past participles. 'Sheared' is often used for the mechanical action (The bolt has sheared). 'Shorn' is typically used as an adjective or in figurative contexts (shorn wool, shorn of pride).
'Shear' means to cut. 'Sheer' is an adjective meaning absolute, utter, or perpendicular (sheer delight, a sheer drop). They are homophones but different words.
Rarely as a singular noun (a type of strain). The plural noun 'shears' is common and refers to large scissors (garden shears, pinking shears).
A meteorological term for a sudden, drastic change in wind speed or direction over a short distance, which is hazardous to aviation.