shears: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Specialized, Technical, Everyday (in gardening/DIY contexts)
Quick answer
What does “shears” mean?
A large scissors or cutting tool consisting of two pivoted blades, typically used for cutting fabric, hedges, or metal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large scissors or cutting tool consisting of two pivoted blades, typically used for cutting fabric, hedges, or metal.
1. A cutting implement resembling large scissors, often with specific design features for particular materials (e.g., pruning shears, tin shears). 2. In mechanical contexts, a machine or tool that cuts by bringing two sharp edges together. 3. In biology, the pincers of certain crustaceans.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both use 'shears' for large cutting tools. British English may more commonly use 'shears' for garden tools, while American English might use 'clippers' for some garden contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties; associated with gardening, tailoring, metalwork, or sheep shearing.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to gardening culture and historical sheep farming references.
Grammar
How to Use “shears” in a Sentence
Shear [something] with shearsUse shears to [verb]The shears are [adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shears” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He shears the sheep every spring.
- The gardener sheared the overgrown laurel.
American English
- She shears the wool from the alpaca.
- They sheared the metal sheet to size.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective for 'shears'. The related adjective is 'shearing' as in 'shearing force'.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective for 'shears'. The related adjective is 'shearing' as in 'shearing stress'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In hardware retail: 'Our latest line of garden shears has a lifetime guarantee.'
Academic
In agricultural history: 'The development of mechanical shears revolutionised wool production.'
Everyday
Could you pass me the shears? The hedge needs trimming.
Technical
The hydraulic shears cut through the steel plate with 50 tons of force.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shears”
- Using it as singular ('a shear'). Incorrect: 'I need a shear.' Correct: 'I need a pair of shears.' / 'I need the shears.' Treating it as uncountable. Confusing with the verb 'to shear'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun (like 'scissors' or 'trousers') referring to a single tool. Use plural verbs: 'The shears are blunt.'
Shears are generally larger, heavier, and used for tougher materials (fabric, hedges, metal). Scissors are smaller and for lighter tasks (paper, thread). Shears often have one handle larger for more fingers.
No. The correct way to refer to one item is 'a pair of shears' or simply 'the shears'.
The verb is 'to shear' (past tense: sheared, past participle: shorn or sheared). It means to cut the wool off a sheep or to cut something with a shearing action.
A large scissors or cutting tool consisting of two pivoted blades, typically used for cutting fabric, hedges, or metal.
Shears is usually specialized, technical, everyday (in gardening/diy contexts) in register.
Shears: in British English it is pronounced /ʃɪəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃɪrz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sharper than a pair of shears (informal, emphasizing sharpness or wit)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SHEARS as large SCISSORS for SHEARing (cutting) things like SHEep wool or SHEdges.
Conceptual Metaphor
A tool of division/separation; 'the shears of fate' (literary, rare).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'shears' correctly?