The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
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   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.
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   3. Same as Shearling. --Youatt.
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   4. The act or operation of reaping. [Scot.]
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   5. The act or operation of dividing with shears; as, the
      shearing of metal plates.
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   6. The process of preparing shear steel; tilting.
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   7. (Mining) The process of making a vertical side cutting in
      working into a face of coal.
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   Shearing machine.
      (a) A machine with blades, or rotary disks, for dividing
          plates or bars of metal.
      (b) A machine for shearing cloth.
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