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Shed vs Shear - What's the difference?

shed | shear |

As verbs the difference between shed and shear

is that shed is (transitive|obsolete|uk|dialect) to part or divide while shear is to cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.

As nouns the difference between shed and shear

is that shed is (weaving) an area between upper and lower warp yarns through which the weft is woven or shed can be a slight or temporary structure built to shade or shelter something; a structure usually open in front; an outbuilding; a hut while shear is a cutting tool similar to scissors, but often larger.

As an adjective shear is

.

shed

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) sheden, scheden, schoden, from (etyl) 'he cuts off'). Related to (l); (l).

Verb

  • (transitive, obsolete, UK, dialect) To part or divide.
  • A metal comb shed her golden hair.
    (Robert of Brunne)
  • (ambitransitive) To part with, separate from, leave off; cast off, let fall, be divested of.
  • You must shed your fear of the unknown before you can proceed.
    When we found the snake, it was in the process of shedding its skin.
  • * Mortimer
  • White oats are apt to shed most as they lie, and black as they stand.
  • * 2012 November 2, Ken Belson, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/sports/new-york-city-marathon-will-not-be-held-sunday.html?hp&_r=0]," New York Times (retrieved 2 November 2012):
  • She called on all the marathoners to go to Staten Island to help with the clean-up effort and to bring the clothes they would have shed at the start to shelters or other places where displaced people were in need.
  • (archaic) To pour; to make flow.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?
  • To allow to flow or fall.
  • I didn't shed many tears when he left me.
    A tarpaulin sheds water.
  • To radiate, cast, give off (light); see also shed light on.
  • Can you shed any light on this problem?
  • (obsolete) To pour forth, give off, impart.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts II:
  • Sence now that he by the right honde of god exalted is, and hath receaved off the father the promys off the holy goost, he hath sheed forthe that which ye nowe se and heare.
  • (obsolete) To fall in drops; to pour.
  • * Chaucer
  • Such a rain down from the welkin shadde .
  • To sprinkle; to intersperse; to cover.
  • * Ben Jonson
  • Her hair is shed with grey.
  • (weaving) To divide, as the warp threads, so as to form a shed, or passageway, for the shuttle.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) schede, schode, (m), .

    Alternative forms

    * (dialectal) * (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (weaving) An area between upper and lower warp yarns through which the weft is woven.
  • (obsolete) A distinction or dividing-line.
  • (obsolete) A parting in the hair.
  • (obsolete) An area of land as distinguished from those around it.
  • Derived terms
    * watershed

    Etymology 3

    Variant of shade .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A slight or temporary structure built to shade or shelter something; a structure usually open in front; an outbuilding; a hut.
  • a wagon shed'''; a wood '''shed'''; a garden '''shed
  • (British, derogatory, informal) An automobile which is old, worn-out, slow, or otherwise of poor quality.
  • (British, rail transportation) A locomotive.
  • *'>citation
  • Derived terms
    * * * * *

    See also

    * cabin * hovel * hut * kiosk * outbuilding * pergola * shack * shanty * stall * storehouse

    shear

    English

    (wikipedia 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)