Meaning & Definition of word "Shear"

noun:

• 1. A cutting instrument or tool that is used to shear fibrous materials.
  • Example: She used a pair of heavy-duty shears to trim the hedges in her garden.
• 2. The act of shearing; the process of removing hair or wool.
  • Example: The shear of the sheep occurs once a year to harvest their fleece.
• 3. A type of stress or force that causes layers of material to slide past each other.
  • Example: The geologist studied the shear in the rock layers to understand the area's seismic activity.

verb:

• 1. To cut the hair, wool, or other fibrous material from something.
  • Example: The farmer decided to shear the sheep in early spring to keep them cool.
• 2. To remove or cut off by cutting.
  • Example: The mechanic used a special tool to shear the metal components for the new engine.
• 3. To deform or break under a lateral force.
  • Example: The structural engineer explained how the metal could shear under high stress.