Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shearing \Shear"ing\, n.
   1. The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing
      machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth.

   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.

   3. Same as {Shearling}. --Youatt.

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

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

   6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.

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

   {Shearing machine}.
      (a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing
          plates or bars of metal.
      (b) A machine for shearing cloth.