shears

British  

/ ʃɪəz /

plural noun

1. 1. large scissors, as for cutting cloth, jointing poultry, etc

   2. a large scissor-like and usually hand-held cutting tool with flat blades, as for cutting hedges

2. any of various analogous cutting or clipping implements or machines

3. short for sheerlegs

4. informal (of a sheep) newly shorn

---

Example Sentences

I slipped on waterproof shoes, grabbed a pair of shears and, still in my pajamas, tiptoed down the grand staircase of the château and out onto the dewy grass of the garden.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

“I can’t imagine how frightened those horses must have been,” Brad said as he cropped the grass tightly around the marble stone with garden shears.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2024

In the salvage yard Monday morning, workers disassembled the metal trusses by attacking them with propane torches and a pair of giant shears that sliced them into more manageable pieces.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 15, 2024

Citizen scientists are the eyes, ears and pruning shears of TACF.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2023

John sliced into the air with the shears.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye