From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Shear \Shear\, v. i.
1. To deviate. See Sheer.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Engin.) To become more or less completely divided, as a
body under the action of forces, by the sliding of two
contiguous parts relatively to each other in a direction
parallel to their plane of contact.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Shear \Shear\, n. [AS. sceara. See Shear, v. t.]
1. A pair of shears; -- now always used in the plural, but
formerly also in the singular. See Shears.
[1913 Webster]
On his head came razor none, nor shear. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Short of the wool, and naked from the shear.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. A shearing; -- used in designating the age of sheep.
[1913 Webster]
After the second shearing, he is a two-shear ram; .
. . at the expiration of another year, he is a
three-shear ram; the name always taking its date
from the time of shearing. --Youatt.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Engin.) An action, resulting from applied forces, which
tends to cause two contiguous parts of a body to slide
relatively to each other in a direction parallel to their
plane of contact; -- also called shearing stress, and
tangential stress.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Mech.) A strain, or change of shape, of an elastic body,
consisting of an extension in one direction, an equal
compression in a perpendicular direction, with an
unchanged magnitude in the third direction.
[1913 Webster]
Shear blade, one of the blades of shears or a shearing
machine.
Shear hulk. See under Hulk.
Shear steel, a steel suitable for shears, scythes, and
other cutting instruments, prepared from fagots of
blistered steel by repeated heating, rolling, and tilting,
to increase its malleability and fineness of texture.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Shear \Shear\ (sh[=e]r), v. t. [imp. Shearedor 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.
[1913 Webster]
Note: It is especially applied to the cutting of wool from
sheep or their skins, and the nap from cloth.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Before the golden tresses . . . were shorn away.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. To reap, as grain. [Scot.] --Jamieson.
[1913 Webster]
4. Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Mech.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See
Shear, n., 4.
[1913 Webster]