Shear  —v. (past sheared; past part. Shorn or sheared) 1  (also absol.) Clip the wool off (a sheep etc.). 2 remove or take off by cutting. 3 cut with scissors or shears etc. 4 (foll. By of) a strip bare. B deprive. 5 (often foll. By off) distort, be distorted, or break, from structural strain. —n. 1  strain produced by pressure in the structure of a substance. 2 (in pl.) (also pair of shears sing.) Large scissor-shaped clipping or cutting instrument.  shearer n. [old english]