Shearing means cutting or trimming something with a sharp tool, usually scissors or shears (large, heavy scissors designed for cutting thick materials). When farmers shear their sheep in the spring, they carefully cut away the thick wool coat the sheep grew during winter. The sheep isn't hurt: it's like getting a haircut, and the wool grows back. The freshly cut wool, called a fleece, can be cleaned, spun into yarn, and woven into warm clothing.

The word also describes what happens when forces push or pull in opposite directions along a surface. Engineers worry about shearing forces in bridges and buildings. Imagine holding a deck of cards flat in both hands, then sliding your hands in opposite directions so the cards shift against each other. That sliding motion is shearing. During earthquakes, rock layers can shear past each other, creating dangerous stress on structures above.

You might also hear about shearing metal in a factory, where powerful machines cut through steel sheets, or a landscaper shearing hedges into neat shapes.