Lexical Definition

‎κείρω‎ keírō (ki'-ro) to shear ^G:V
a primary verb

shear(-er).

• to shear

Abbott-Smith

κείρω, [in LXX chiefly for גּזז, Is 53:7, al.;]
to cut short the hair, shear: a sheep, Ac 8:32 (Is 53:7). Mid., to have one's hair cut off, be shorn: absol., I Co 11:6; τ. κεφαλήν, Ac 18:18.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

κείρω,

future κερῶ [Refs 5th c.BC+], Ionic dialect κερέω [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist ἔκειρα [Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic dialect ἔκερσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect κέκαρκα [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—middle, future κεροῦμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐκειράμἡν [Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic dialect ἐκερσάμην [Refs 4th c.BC+] —passive, aorist 1 participle κερθείς[Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist 2 ἐκάρην [ᾰ] [Refs 3rd c.BC+], subjunctive κᾰρῇ [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive κᾰρῆναι, participle καρείς, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: perfect infinitive κεκάρθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: Attic dialect pluperfect ἐκεκάρμην [Refs 2nd c.AD+]. (Cf. Sanskrit kṛṇā´ti 'wound', Latin caro: probably also O[Refs 5th c.BC+] scieran, Eng. shear.):—cut short, shear, clip, especially of hair, σοί τε κόμην κερέειν (i.e. Σπερχειῷ) [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. ἐν χρ [τὰς τρίχας] crop it close, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: —more frequently in middle, cut off one's hair or have it cut off, as a sign of mourning (compare κουρά), τοῦτο.. γέρας οἶον ὀϊζυροῖσι βροτοῖσι, κείρασθαί τε κόμην βαλέειν τ᾽ ἀπὸ δάκρυ παρειῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: absolutely, cut off one's hair, κείρασθε, συμπενθήσατ᾽ [Refs 5th c.BC+] to have oneself close shorn, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, κουρᾷ.. πενθίμῳ κεκαρμένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σύμβολον κ. half-cropped, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, of the hair, to be cut off, πλόκαμοι κερθέντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 crop a person, σφέας αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἵππους, in sign of mourning, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κεκάρθαι τὰς κεφαλάς to have their heads shorn, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; shear sheep, μάχαιραι κουρίδες, αἷς κείρομεν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τοὺς ποιμένας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κείρεσθαί (tonderi) μου τὰ πρόβατα, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἀποξύρεσθαι (deglubi) βούλομαι Tiber. cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὸ μὲν [καρῆναι] ἐπὶ προβάτων τιθέασι καὶ ἐπὶ ἀτίμου κουρᾶς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; but τῶν Ἀργείων ἐπὶ πένθει καρέντων Plu.[same place]; τῷ σε χρὴ δρεπάνοισι καὶ οὐ ψαλίδεσσι καρῆναι [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__3 metaphorically, 'fleece', plunder, τὴν μάμμην [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__II cut down, δοῦρ᾽ ἐλάτης κέρσαντες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; crop close, opposed to ἐπιτέμνειν, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; pluck, ἄνθη [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 ravage a country, especially by cutting down crops and fruit-trees, τὸ πεδίον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν γῆν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; destroy, πόλιν [Refs 3rd c.BC+] P.; also, clear, of pioneers, ὄρος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, of a country, to be ravaged, καρῆναι [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —middle, χθὼν πεύκας κειραμένη having its pine-trees cut down, [Refs 1st c.AD+] had her glory shorn off, epigram cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; Ἄρης νυχίαν πλάκα κερσάμενος having had the plain swept clean (by destroying the men), [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.3 ἔκειρε πολύκερων φόνον slaughtered many a horned beast by hewing, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 hew, carve, ἐπίβασιν [Refs]
__II.5 cut through transversely, opposed to σχίζειν (slit longitudinally), φλέβα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__III generally, destroy, consume:
__III.1 tear, eat greedily, of beasts, κείρει τ᾽ εἰσελθὼν βαθὺ λήϊον [ὄνος] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of fish, δημὸν.. ἐπινεφρίδιον κείροντες [Refs]; of vultures, ἧπαρ ἔκειρον [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__III.2 metaphorically, waste, devour, ἐκείρετε πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλὰ κτήματ᾽ ἐμά [Refs 8th c.BC+]