dent vs shearing

dent

noun
  • A shallow deformation in the surface of an object, produced by an impact. 

  • A type of maize/corn with a relatively soft outer hull, and a soft type of starch that shrinks at maturity to leave an indentation in the surface of the kernel. 

  • A sudden negative change, such as loss, damage, weakening, consumption or diminution, especially one produced by an external force, event or action 

  • A slot or a wire in a reed 

  • A minor impact or effect made upon something. 

  • A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc. 

verb
  • To impact something, producing a dent. 

  • To develop a dent or dents. 

shearing

noun
  • Deformation by forces acting in opposite directions. 

  • The process of making a vertical side cutting in working into a face of coal. 

  • The act or operation of reaping. 

  • The act or operation of clipping with shears or a shearing machine, as the wool from sheep, or the nap from cloth. 

  • The material cut off in this way. 

  • The process of preparing shear steel; tilting. 

  • The act or operation of dividing with shears. 

adj
  • Tending to cut or tear. 

How often have the words dent and shearing occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )