1. past tense and past participle of shear; cut the wool off (a sheep) or cut with shears
2. broke or gave way under stress (especially of metal or rock)
Usage: engineering; geology

1. having had wool or hair cut off

Examples

• The farmer sheared his sheep in early spring.
• She sheared the hedge into a neat rectangular shape.
• The metal bolt sheared under the excessive weight.
• The rock face sheared away during the earthquake.
• The sheared sheep looked much smaller without their thick wool.
• He collected the sheared wool to sell at the market.