shorn

Everyday

1. Shorn means having had the wool or hair cut off, usually with big scissors or electric clippers, as in «shorn sheep». tree →
2. Shorn of something means having had it taken away, as in «shorn of his power». tree →
3. (adjective) Shorn hair is cut very short. tree →

In the lessons

In farming and geography lessons about Australia, New Zealand and the UK, sheep are shorn each year so their wool can be used for clothes. In stories «shorn» can show a big change, like a hero with shorn hair or a king shorn of his crown. It is a slightly old or formal word; everyday talk often says «sheared» or «had their hair cut».

Examples

• The sheep were shorn in spring, and the wool was piled high. tree →
• The freshly shorn lambs looked tiny without their fleece. tree →
• In New Zealand, the shearers had shorn hundreds of sheep by lunchtime. tree →
• His head was shorn for the charity challenge. tree →
• The castle, shorn of its walls, stood open to the wind. tree →
• Shorn wool is washed before it is spun. tree →
• Have the alpacas been shorn yet? tree →

Note

«Shorn» is the past participle: «they have shorn», «the sheep were shorn». The simple past is usually «sheared» (they sheared the sheep). Homophone trap: «shorn» sounds like «shawn» in many accents but is not related to «shore» or «shone».