shear Verb
To cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.
* 1819 , Walter Scott, Ivanhoe :
- So trenchant was the Templar’s weapon, that it shore asunder, as it had been a willow twig, the tough and plaited handle of the mace, which the ill-fated Saxon reared to parry the blow, and, descending on his head, levelled him with the earth.
* Shakespeare
- the golden tresses were shorn away
To remove the fleece from a sheep etc by clipping.
(physics) To deform because of shearing forces.
(Scotland) To reap, as grain.
- (Jamieson)
(figurative) To deprive of property; to fleece.
Noun
( en noun)
a cutting tool similar to scissors, but often larger
* Dryden
- short of the wool, and naked from the shear
the act of shearing, or something removed by shearing
* Youatt
- After the second shearing, he is a two-shear' ram; at the expiration of another year, he is a three-' shear ram; the name always taking its date from the time of shearing.
(physics) a force that produces a shearing strain
(geology) The response of a rock to deformation usually by compressive stress, resulting in particular textures.
Derived terms
* megashear
* shearer
Adjective
(head)
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jam English
, a type of jam, spread on a piece of bread
Etymology 1
Noun
A sweet mixture of fruit boiled with sugar and allowed to congeal. Often spread on bread or toast or used in jam tarts.
(countable) A difficult situation.
- I’m in a jam right now. Can you help me out?
* 1975 , (Bob Dylan), (Tangled Up in Blue)
- She was married when we first met
- Soon to be divorced
- I helped her out of a jam , I guess
- But I used a little too much force.
(countable) Blockage, congestion.
- A traffic jam caused us to miss the game's first period.
- a jam of logs in a river
An informal, impromptu performance or rehearsal.
(countable, baseball) A difficult situation for a pitcher or defending team.
- He's in a jam now, having walked the bases loaded with the cleanup hitter coming to bat.
(countable, basketball) A forceful dunk.
(countable, roller derby) A play during which points can be scored.
- Toughie scored four points in that jam .
(climbing, countable) Any of several maneuvers requiring wedging of an extremity into a tight space.
- I used a whole series of fist and foot jams in that crack.
(UK) luck.
- He's got more jam than Waitrose.
(mining)
Synonyms
* (sweet mixture of fruit) conserve, (US) jelly, preserve
* See also
Derived terms
* jamjar
* jammy
* jam band
* jam roly poly
* jam sandwich
* jam session
* jam tart
* jam tomorrow
* log jam
* Murrumbidgee jam
* pearl jam
* power jam
* toe jam
* traffic jam
* want jam on it
* climbing:
** hand jam
** finger jam
** fist jam
** foot jam
** pinkie jam
** ring jam
** thumb-down jam
See also
* jelly
* marmalade
Verb
( jamm)
To get something stuck in a confined space.
- My foot got jammed in a gap between the rocks.
- Her poor little baby toe got jammed in the door.
- I jammed the top knuckle of my ring finger.
To brusquely force something into a space; cram, squeeze.
- They temporarily stopped the gas tank leak by jamming a piece of taffy into the hole.
- The rush-hour train was jammed with commuters.
To cause congestion or blockage. Often used with "up"
- A single accident can jam the roads for hours.
To block or confuse a broadcast signal.
(baseball) To throw a pitch at or near the batter's hands.
- Jones was jammed by the pitch.
(music) To play music (especially improvisation as a group, or an informal unrehearsed session).
To injure a finger or toe by sudden compression of the digit's tip.
- When he tripped on the step he jammed his toe.
(roller derby) To attempt to score points.
- Toughie jammed four times in the second period.
(nautical) To bring (a vessel) so close to the wind that half her upper sails are laid aback.
-
Synonyms
* ram
Derived terms
* (to squeeze into a small space) jam-pack
* jammer
Etymology 2
(etyl) or (etyl), meaning "garment, robe"; related to pajamas.
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