Shear \Shear\, 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.

Note: It is especially applied to the cutting of wool from sheep or their skins, and the nap from cloth.

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.

Before the golden tresses . . . were shorn away. --Shak.

3. To reap, as grain. [Scot.]

--Jamieson.

4. Fig.: To deprive of property; to fleece.

5. (Mech.) To produce a change of shape in by a shear. See Shear, n., 4.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.

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.

3. Same as Shearling. --Youatt.

4. The act or operation of reaping. [Scot.]

5. The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the shearing of metal plates.

6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.

7. (Mining) The process of making a vertical side cutting in working into a face of coal.

Shearing machine.
   (a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing plates or bars of metal.
   (b) A machine for shearing cloth.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)