Word Meanings - SHEARS - Book Publishers vocabulary database

The bedpiece of a machine tool, upon which a table or slide rest is secured; as, the shears of a lathe or planer. See Illust. under Lathe. Rotary shears. See under Rotary. (more info) 1. A cutting instrument. Specifically: An instrument consisting

Additional info about word: SHEARS

The bedpiece of a machine tool, upon which a table or slide rest is secured; as, the shears of a lathe or planer. See Illust. under Lathe. Rotary shears. See under Rotary. (more info) 1. A cutting instrument. Specifically: An instrument consisting of two blades, commonly with bevel edges, connected by a pivot, and working on both sides of the material to be cut, -- used for cutting cloth and other substances. Fate urged the shears, and cut the sylph in twain. Pope. A similar instrument the blades of which are extensions of a curved spring, -- used for shearing sheep or skins. A shearing machine; a blade, or a set of blades, working against a resisting edge. 2. Anything in the form of shears. Specifically: A pair of wings. Spenser. An apparatus for raising heavy weights, and especially for stepping and unstepping the lower masts of ships. It consists of two or more spars or pieces of timber, fastened together near the top, steadied by a guy or guys, and furnished with the necessary tackle.

Related words: (words related to SHEARS)

• UNDERDOER
  One who underdoes; a shirk.
• UNDERBRED
  Not thoroughly bred; ill-bred; as, an underbred fellow. Goldsmith.
• UNDERSECRETARY
  A secretary who is subordinate to the chief secretary; an assistant secretary; as, an undersecretary of the Treasury.
• UNDERPLOT
  1. A series of events in a play, proceeding collaterally with the main story, and subservient to it. Dryden. 2. A clandestine scheme; a trick. Addison.
• TABLER
  1. One who boards. 2. One who boards others for hire. B. Jonson.
• UNDERNICENESS
  A want of niceness; indelicacy; impropriety.
• UNDERDOLVEN
  p. p. of Underdelve.
• UNDERSOIL
  The soil beneath the surface; understratum; subsoil.
• UNDERNIME
  1. To receive; to perceive. He the savor undernom Which that the roses and the lilies cast. Chaucer. 2. To reprove; to reprehend. Piers Plowman.
• UNDERPROP
  To prop from beneath; to put a prop under; to support; to uphold. Underprop the head that bears the crown. Fenton.
• TABLEAU VIVANT
  See 2
• UNDERCREST
  To support as a crest; to bear. Shak.
• UNDERSAY
  To say by way of derogation or contradiction. Spenser.
• LATHE
  A machine for turning, that is, for shaping articles of wood, metal, or other material, by causing them to revolve while acted upon by a cutting tool. 3. The movable swing frame of a loom, carrying the reed for separating the warp threads
• UNDERGROUND INSURANCE
  Wildcat insurance.
• TABLEMAN
  A man at draughts; a piece used in playing games at tables. See Table, n., 10. Bacon.
• UNDERTAPSTER
  Assistant to a tapster.
• MACHINER
  One who or operates a machine; a machinist.
• SECURIFORM
  Having the form of an ax hatchet.
• UNDERDELVE
  To delve under.
• MOUNTABLE
  Such as can be mounted.
• IMPALATABLE
  Unpalatable.
• GRAMME MACHINE
  A kind of dynamo-electric machine; -- so named from its French inventor, M. Gramme. Knight.
• CIRCUMROTARY; CIRCUMROTATORY
  turning, rolling, or whirling round.
• MISINTERPRETABLE
  Capable of being misinterpreted; liable to be misunderstood.
• POSTABLE
  Capable of being carried by, or as by, post. W. Montagu.
• UNWARRANTABLE
  Not warrantable; indefensible; not vindicable; not justifiable; illegal; unjust; improper. -- Un*war"rant*a*ble*ness, n. -- Un*war"rant*a*bly, adv.
• IMPREVENTABLE
  Not preventable; invitable.
• ACCEPTABLE
  Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with pleasure; pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as, an acceptable present, one acceptable to us.
• SUPPORTABLE
  Capable of being supported, maintained, or endured; endurable. -- Sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*port"a*bly, adv.
• INTESTABLE
  Not capable of making a will; not legally qualified or competent to make a testament. Blackstone.
• PLUNDERER
  One who plunders or pillages.