Shear (?), 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.
☞ 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. 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.