# shear

/ˈʃɪɹ/ (US) · /ʃˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shear
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to cut wool

verb · CEFR B2

to cut the wool off a sheep or another animal.

For teachers: to remove the fleece from a sheep or similar animal by clipping or cutting. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The farmers gather the sheep once a year to shear their thick wool.
- The seasonal task of shearing the flock requires both physical stamina and a steady hand to avoid nicking the animals' skin.

### 2. to break under pressure

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to break or snap because of a strong force pushing from the side.

For teachers: to break or become displaced due to a force that causes layers or parts to slide over each other in opposite directions.

- The metal bolt started to shear under the heavy weight of the machine.
- Engineers discovered that the structural support had sheared off completely due to the unexpected lateral stress during the earthquake.

### 3. cutting tool

noun · CEFR B2

a large tool like scissors used for cutting metal, thick cloth, or garden plants.

For teachers: a large cutting instrument resembling scissors, typically used for heavy-duty materials or gardening. Usually plural in form when referring to the tool.

- He used a pair of garden shears to trim the tall bushes.
- The industrial workshop was equipped with heavy-duty shears capable of slicing through thick sheets of aluminium with precision.

### 4. wind/force

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a change in wind speed or direction over a short distance.

For teachers: a strain produced by pressure in the structure of a substance; specifically, a variation in wind velocity occurring along a direction at right angles to the wind's direction.

- The pilot had to be careful because of the strong wind shear near the airport.
- The aircraft encountered severe low-level wind shear, forcing the flight crew to abort the landing and climb to a safer altitude.

## Examples

- The bridge collapsed because of the strong wind shear.
- Pilots are trained to handle sudden wind shear, which can cause a dangerous loss of lift during takeoff.
- In structural engineering, calculating the shear stress on a beam is critical to ensuring the building can withstand lateral forces like earthquakes or high-velocity winds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.