shearing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Agricultural / General
Quick answer
What does “shearing” mean?
The act of cutting the wool off a sheep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of cutting the wool off a sheep.
The action of cutting or removing something with a sharp tool, or the process of material deformation under mechanical stress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Shearing shed' is more common in AU/NZ/UK agricultural contexts. American usage may more readily adopt the engineering sense.
Connotations
In both, the core meaning carries rustic, pastoral connotations. In technical contexts, it is neutral and precise.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British/Commonwealth English due to stronger agricultural tradition.
Grammar
How to Use “shearing” in a Sentence
[of N] The shearing of the sheep[N ~] The sheep shearing[~ N] Shearing wool[~ of N from N] The shearing of metal from the boltVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shearing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farmer will be shearing the flock next Tuesday.
- The mechanic discovered the bolt had sheared clean off.
American English
- They're shearing the sheep over at the county fairgrounds.
- The force sheared the pin, causing the failure.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He bought a new shearing handpiece for the season.
- The shearing stress calculation is critical.
American English
- The shearing crew arrived at the ranch at dawn.
- The component failed due to shearing force.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like textile raw materials or metal fabrication.
Academic
Common in agricultural science and materials engineering papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing farming, crafts (like quilting), or DIY.
Technical
Precise term in physics for a force causing layers of material to slide past each other.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shearing”
- Using 'shearing' for human haircuts (use 'cutting' or 'trimming').
- Misspelling as 'sheering' (which means swerving).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, but it can be used for other animals with thick wool/fur (e.g., alpacas) and in technical contexts for materials.
'Shearing' implies removing a layer (like wool) or a clean, forceful severance under stress. 'Cutting' is more general.
Yes. As a noun (The shearing is done). As a verb (They are shearing the sheep). The -ing form here is most commonly a gerund (noun).
In engineering, it's a stress that causes adjacent parts of a material to slide past each other, like scissors cutting paper.
The act of cutting the wool off a sheep.
Shearing is usually technical / agricultural / general in register.
Shearing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɪərɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(Like) a sheep to the shearing”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SHEep wEARING wool -> SHEARING takes it off.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS CUTTING (Shearing away doubts); PRESSURE IS A FORCE (Shearing stress in arguments).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'shearing' LEAST likely to be used?