shear
UK[ʃɪə]US[ʃɪr]
v
to cut the wool off a sheep
v
to cut off hair or wool
v
(physics) to become deformed or cause something to become deformed because of the action of forces sliding parts of it in different directions
Etymology
the word 'shear' originates from the old english 'scieran', meaning "to cut". this old english term is traced back to the proto-germanic 'skeraną', which carries the same fundamental meaning. this germanic root is further connected to the proto-indo-European root 'sker-', meaning "to cut", a root which has also given rise to a wide array of words in other indo-european languages related to cutting and separating, such as latin 'caro' (flesh, that which is cut) and greek 'keirein' (to cut or shear). the semantic core of cutting has remained remarkably stable throughout its evolution, specializing in english to refer primarily to the cutting of wool or hair, and later acquiring a technical meaning in physics.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form derived from old english. it is not productively composed of smaller, recognizable morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the farmer will shear the sheep in the spring.
her long locks were sheared off for the movie role.
the force caused the metal bolt to shear.