shears
shears Lexical Profile
shears Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large cutting instrument that operates like a pair of scissors, typically used for cutting sheep's fleece, pruning plants, or cutting thick materials.
"The gardener used a heavy pair of shears to trim the overgrown hedge by the driveway."
A heavy lifting apparatus consisting of two or more spars joined at the top, used for hoisting immense weights.
"The shipyard workers rigged the shears to lift the heavy ship mast into place."
• verb
To cut the wool, fleece, or hair off (an animal).
"Every spring, the farmer shears the sheep to keep them cool during the warmer months."
To remove something by cutting or slicing it sharply.
"The low bridge shears the top off any tall truck that mistakenly attempts to drive underneath."
To break off or cause to break off owing to extreme structural strain or force.
"Under immense lateral pressure, the steel bolt shears and the structural joint eventually fails."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun denoting a single tool, 'shears' is a pluralia tantum and strictly requires a plural verb (e.g., 'the shears are sharp'), functioning identically to the word 'scissors'.
• Rhymes for shears
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'scēran' (to cut, shear) and 'scēara' (scissors), descending from the Proto-Germanic root '*skeraną' meaning to cut or divide.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.