shearing

1. not comparableTending to cut or tear.

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of shear

plural shearings

1. countableuncountableThe act or operation of removing the fleece from a sheep, llama etc. with shears or a shearing machine
2. countableuncountableThe removal of nap from cloth.
3. countableuncountableThe material cut off in this way.

   the whole shearing of a flock; the shearings from cloth

4. countableuncountableDeformation by forces acting in opposite directions.
5. alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of shearling.

   When male sheep have been castrated , they are termed — from the period of weaning to that of shearing — wether , or wedder or shear hogs or tegs, then shearings , shearlings , dinmonts , & c .

   1864, William Youatt, The Complete Grazier and Farmer's and Cattle-Breeder's

6. ScotlandcountableuncountableThe act or operation of reaping.
7. countableuncountableThe act or operation of dividing with shears.

   the shearing of metal plates

8. countableuncountableThe process of preparing shear steel; tilting.
9. countableuncountablebusinessThe process of making a vertical side cutting in working into a face of coal.