---
title: shear — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «shear» in the school dictionary: To shear a sheep is to cut off its wool. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# shear

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** bolt, Shears, large scissors, Shear, force, farmer · **What happens:** shear, be, mean, cut, break off, shear off · **To what, where:** sheep, something, strong sideways force, large scissors, hedges, force · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«shear» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [shear in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shear.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shear a sheep is to cut off its wool.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:m1:1
# text = To shear a sheep is to cut off its wool.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shear	shear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	off	off	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shear** | to-infinitive |  | a sheep |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent sheep=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | cut *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To shear can mean to cut or break something off, often by a strong sideways force: the bolt sheared off.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:m2:1
# text = To shear can mean to cut or break something off, often by a strong sideways force: the bolt sheared off.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	shear	shear	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cut	cut	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	break	break	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	obj	_	_
10	off	off	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
12	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
15	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
16	sideways	sideways	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	21	punct	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	bolt	bolt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	nsubj	_	_
21	sheared	shear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	acl:relcl	_	_
22	off	off	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can · infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **cut** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **break off** | infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | by a strong sideways force | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer something=Patient |
| 4 | **shear off** | past | the bolt | a strong sideways force *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent force=Initial\_Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shears (plural) are large scissors for cutting hedges, grass or wool.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:m3:1
# text = Shears (plural) are large scissors for cutting hedges, grass or wool.
1	Shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
2	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	plural	plural	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	3	punct	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	scissors	scissors	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	cutting	cut	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
10	hedges	hedge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	appos	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	wool	wool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shears | large scissors |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **cut** | gerund | large scissors *not said here* | hedges |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset hedge=Product |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Shear is a force that pushes parts of something sideways in opposite directions, like rubbing your hands together.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:m4:1
# text = Shear is a force that pushes parts of something sideways in opposite directions, like rubbing your hands together.
1	Shear	shear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	pushes	push	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	_
10	sideways	sideways	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	opposite	opposite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	directions	direction	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	rubbing	rub	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	conj	_	_
17	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	18	nmod:poss	_	_
18	hands	hand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	obj	_	_
19	together	together	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Shear | a force |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **push** | present | a force | parts of something |  | opposite directions |  | sideways *property* | vn funnel-9.3-1-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent part=Theme in direction=Trajectory |
| 3 | **rub** | gerund | a force *not said here* | your hands |  |  |  | together *property* | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent hand=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The farmer will shear the sheep in spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x1:1
# text = The farmer will shear the sheep in spring.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	farmer	farmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	shear	shear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shear** | future | the farmer | the sheep |  |  | spring |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent sheep=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sheep looked tiny after it was shorn.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x2:1
# text = The sheep looked tiny after it was shorn.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	shorn	shorn	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the sheep |  |  |  |  | tiny *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is** | past | it |  |  |  |  | shorn *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa trims the hedge with garden shears.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x3:1
# text = Grandpa trims the hedge with garden shears.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	trims	trim	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hedge	hedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	shears	shear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **trim** | present | Grandpa | the hedge |  |  |  | with garden shears | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent hedge=Destination with shear=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The strong wind sheared a branch off the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x4:1
# text = The strong wind sheared a branch off the tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	sheared	shear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	branch	branch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	off	off	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shear** | past | the strong wind | a branch |  | the tree |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent branch=Theme off tree=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sheep shearing is a big sport in New Zealand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x5:1
# text = Sheep shearing is a big sport in New Zealand.
1	Sheep	sheep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	shearing	shearing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	New	New	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	flat	_	_
9	Zealand	Zealand	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Sheep shearing | a big sport |  | New Zealand |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science we learned how shear forces break things.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x6:1
# text = In science we learned how shear forces break things.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	learned	learn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	6	advmod	_	_
6	shear	shear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	ccomp	_	_
7	forces	force	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | past | we |  |  | science |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **shear** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **break** | present | forces | things |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer thing=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shearers worked fast all day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:shear:x7:1
# text = The shearers worked fast all day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shearers	shearer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	fast	fast	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | the shearers |  |  |  | day | fast *property* | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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