from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shearing \Shear"ing\, n.
1. The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing
machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth.
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2. The product of the act or operation of clipping with
shears or a shearing machine; as, the whole shearing of a
flock; the shearings from cloth.
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3. Same as {Shearling}. --Youatt.
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4. The act or operation of reaping. [Scot.]
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5. The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the
shearing of metal plates.
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6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.
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7. (Mining) The process of making a vertical side cutting in
working into a face of coal.
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{Shearing machine}.
(a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing
plates or bars of metal.
(b) A machine for shearing cloth.
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