Shearing

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Shearing \Shear"ing\, n.
     1. The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing
        machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth.
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     2. The product of the act or operation of clipping with


        shears or a shearing machine; as, the whole shearing of a
        flock; the shearings from cloth.
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     3. Same as {Shearling}. --Youatt.
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     4. The act or operation of reaping. [Scot.]
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     5. The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the
        shearing of metal plates.
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     6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.
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     7. (Mining) The process of making a vertical side cutting in
        working into a face of coal.
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     {Shearing machine}.
        (a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing
            plates or bars of metal.
        (b) A machine for shearing cloth.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Shear \Shear\ (sh[=e]r), v. t. [imp. {Sheared}or {Shore};p. p.
     {Sheared} or {Shorn}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shearing}.] [OE.
     sheren, scheren, to shear, cut, shave, AS. sceran, scieran,
     scyran; akin to D. & G. scheren, Icel. skera, Dan. ski?re,
     Gr. ???. Cf. {Jeer}, {Score}, {Shard}, {Share}, {Sheer} to
     turn aside.]
     1. To cut, clip, or sever anything from with shears or a like
        instrument; as, to shear sheep; to shear cloth.
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     Note: It is especially applied to the cutting of wool from
           sheep or their skins, and the nap from cloth.
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     2. To separate or sever with shears or a similar instrument;
        to cut off; to clip (something) from a surface; as, to
        shear a fleece.
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              Before the golden tresses . . . were shorn away.
                                                    --Shak.
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     3. To reap, as grain. [Scot.] --Jamieson.
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     4. Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece.
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     5. (Mech.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See
        {Shear}, n., 4.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  shearing
       n : removing by cutting off or clipping