gearr1, m. (gs. ~, pl. ~aí).Orn:~ goirt, landrail, corn-crake. ~ róid, úisc, stormy petrel.
gearr2, a. (gsm. ~, gsf. & comp. giorra, npl. ~a)& s. 1. Short. (a) (Of extent, space, duration) Siúl, comhrá, tamall, ~, short walk, conversation, while. Tá an oíche ~, the night is short. Fada ~ é, be it long or short. Ba ghearr an mhoill air é a dhéanamh, it didn’t take him long to do it. An rud is giorra is géire, brevity is the soul of wit. (Intensifying) Is ~ gairid an saol, life is very short. S.a. cúirt 1(b), madra11, scoil 1. (b) Curt. Freagra ~, short answer. (c) Deficient, inadequate. Tomhas ~, short measure. ~ i mbia, i gcúnamh, short of food, of help. ~ san anáil, short of breath. Bhí siad fear ~, they were a man short. 2. Near, close. ~ sa radharc, short-sighted. An áit is giorra dúinn, the place nearest to us. Prov:Is giorra cabhair Dé ná an doras, God’s help is always near. 3. (As adv.)Is ~ (ó), it is not long (since). Is ~ (go), it won’t be long (until). Is ~ ó bhí sé anseo, he was here a short time ago. Ba ghearr leis go dtiocfadh an oíche, he thought the night would come too soon. Is ~ a rachaidh sé orainn, it won’t last us long. Is ~ le dul aige, he hasn’t long to go. Is ~ eatarthu agat, you change your mind quickly about things. Is ~ uainn anois é; is giorra uainn ná ar tháinig, it won’t be long now. Is ~ eile a mhairfidh siad, they won’t last much longer. 4. (As s.)I bhfad agus i n~, far and near. I n~ aimsire, in a short time.
gearr3, v.t. & i. (pp. ~tha). Cut. 1. (a)Do lámh a ghearradh, to cut one’s hand. Arán a ghearradh, to cut bread. Adhmad a ghearradh, to cut timber; to chop wood. Snaidhm a ghearradh, to cut a knot. Rud a ghearradh ina dhá chuid, to cut sth. into two parts. Bheith ~tha millte, to be cut and mangled, all cut up. (b)Fód, díog, a ghearradh, to cut a sod, a trench. Feoil a ghearradh, to cut, carve, meat. Bealach a ghearradh trí choill, to cut a way through a wood. (c)Géag a ghearradh (de chrann), to cut a branch (from a tree). ~adh an ceann de, his head was cut off. ~ amach as an leabhar é, cut it out of the book. ~ anuas é, cut it down. (d) Make incision. An bholgach a ghearradh ar dhuine, to vaccinate s.o. against smallpox. An mhuc a ghearradh do Mhártan, to make an incision in a pig as symbolic sacrifice to St. Martin. Marc a ghearradh ar rud, to cut a mark on sth.; to take particular note of sth. (e) Cut into shape. Culaith a ghearradh do dhuine, to cut a suit for s.o. Dealbh a ghearradh (as cloch), to carve a statue (out of a stone). Litreacha a ghearradh ar rud, to cut lettering on sth. Shílfeá gur anuas dá athair a ~adh é, he is the exact image of his father. (f)Cards:Cártaí a ghearradh, to cut cards. Ag ~adh ar an mbeag, cutting thinly (for deal). ~ díobh, cut them. ~ íseal iad, cut them deep. (g) (Of teeth) Na fiacla a ghearradh, (i) (of child) to cut the teeth, (ii) to grind the teeth. (h) (Of wounding speech) Duine a ghearradh, ~adh chuig duine, to make a cutting remark to s.o. Bíonn siad ag ~adh na gcomharsan, they backbite the neighbours. De shíor ag ~adh aighnis ar a chéile, for ever nagging at each other. (i) (Of action, sign) Fíor na croise a ghearradh ort féin, to make the sign of the cross on oneself. Ag ~adh mionnaí móra, swearing (and crossing oneself). Ná bí ag ~adh Dé (na ngrást), don’t blaspheme. (j) Castrate. Gamhain a ghearradh, to geld a calf. 2. (a)Na tonnta a ghearradh, to furrow the waves. Long ag ~adh roimpi, a ship cutting ahead, making great way. ~ leat, hurry on ahead; make off. (b)Aicearra a ghearradh, to take a short cut. ~adh trasna na páirce, to cut across the field. (c)Léim a ghearradh, to take a jump. Ghearr sé truslóg thairis, he hopped over it. 3. (a) Shorten. Do shaol a ghearradh, to cut short one’s life. An lá, an turas, an bóthar, a ghearradh, to shorten the day, the journey, the road. (b) Reduce. Fiacha, riaráistí, a ghearradh, to reduce debts, arrears. Costas a ghearradh (anuas), to cut down costs. Tuarastal duine a ghearradh, to cut s.o.’s salary. ~ punt de, deduct a pound from it. 4. (a) Levy. Cáin, fíneáil, a ghearradh ar dhuine, to levy a tax, a fine, on s.o. Sraith a ghearradh, to strike a rate. ~adh punt orm, I was fined a pound. (b) Impose. Pionós a ghearradh ar dhuine, to impose a penalty on s.o. ~adh príosún air, he was sentenced to imprisonment. (c) Allocate (from fund). Pinsin a ghearradh do dhaoine, to provide pensions for people. An méid a ~adh dó, the amount allocated to him.