*shearing*

n. 1. The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Same as Shearling. Youatt. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act or operation of reaping. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the shearing of metal plates. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mining) The process of making a vertical side cutting in working into a face of coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shearing machine. (a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing plates or bars of metal. (b) A machine for shearing cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]