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tear
1[teer]
noun
a drop of the saline, watery fluid continually secreted by the lacrimal glands between the surface of the eye and the eyelid, serving to moisten and lubricate these parts and keep them clear of foreign particles.
Synonyms:this fluid appearing in or flowing from the eye as the result of emotion, especially grief.
to shed tears.
something resembling or suggesting a tear, as a drop of a liquid or a tearlike mass of a solid substance, especially having a spherical or globular shape at one end and tapering to a point at the other.
little tears of morning dew.
Glassmaking.a decorative air bubble enclosed in a glass vessel; air bell.
verb (used without object)
to fill up and overflow with tears, as the eyes (often followed byup ).
My eyes were tearing in the wind. He teared up when he heard the news.
tear
2[tair]
verb (used with object)
to pull apart or in pieces by force, especially so as to leave ragged or irregular edges.
Synonyms: , ,Antonyms: , ,to pull or snatch violently; wrench away with force.
to tear wrappings from a package; to tear a book from someone's hands.
to distress greatly.
anguish that tears the heart.
Synonyms: , , ,to divide or disrupt.
a country torn by civil war.
Synonyms: , ,Antonyms: , , ,to wound or injure by or as if by rending; lacerate.
Synonyms: , ,to produce or effect by rending.
to tear a hole in one's coat.
to remove by force or effort.
to be unable to tear oneself from a place.
verb (used without object)
to become torn.
to make a tear or rent.
to move or behave with force, violent haste, or energy.
The wind tore through the trees; cars tearing up and down the highway; I was tearing around all afternoon trying to find sandals for the beach.
noun
the act of tearing.
a rent or fissure.
Synonyms: , ,a rage or passion; violent flurry or outburst.
Informal.a spree.
verb phrase
Slangto perform or do, especially rapidly or casually.
to tear off a poem; to tear off a set of tennis.
Informal
to attack impulsively and heedlessly.
He tore into the food with a will.
to attack verbally.
She tore into him for being late for dinner.
to pull down; destroy; demolish.
to disparage or discredit.
to tear down one's friends behind their backs.
to pluck violently at; attempt to tear.
She tore at the bandages until they loosened.
to distress; afflict.
remorse that tears at one's soul.
to tear into small shreds.
He tore up the drawings because she had criticized them.
to cancel or annul.
to tear up a contract.
tear
1/ ɪə /
noun
a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glands See tears
something shaped like a hanging drop
a tear of amber
tear
2/ ɛə /
verb
to cause (material, paper, etc) to come apart or (of material, etc) to come apart; rip
(tr) to make (a hole or split) in (something)
to tear a hole in a dress
to hurry or rush
to tear along the street
(tr; usually foll by away or from) to remove or take by force
to cause pain, distress, or anguish (to)
it tore at my heartstrings to see the starving child
informalto be angry, frustrated, very worried, etc
noun
a hole, cut, or split
the act of tearing
a great hurry; rush
slangshowing a sudden burst of energy
tear
A drop of the clear salty liquid secreted by glands (lacrimal glands) in the eyes. Tears wet the membrane covering the eye and help rid the eye of irritating substances.
Other 51Թ Forms
- tearable adjective
- tearableness noun
- tearer noun
- untearable adjective
- ˈٱ adjective
- ˈٱ adjective
- ˈٱ noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of tear1
Origin of tear2
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of tear1
Origin of tear2
Idioms and Phrases
in tears, weeping.
He was in tears over the death of his dog.
tear it, to ruin all hope; spoil everything.
tear one's hair, to manifest extreme anxiety, grief, anger, or frustration: Also tear one's hair out.
I'm so upset, I could just tear my hair out.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
I mean even though this is a depressing opera, the music is thrilling and I know I’m going to shed a tear at the end.
Short of amending the document, or tearing it up altogether, they recognized it was pointless to pretend that federalism didn't exist or to only recognize the idea when it was politically useful.
Swisher also warns that assisted stretching could exacerbate existing injuries “like an acute sprain or tear without being cleared by a doctor first.”
“The project of the film is to place you in the history books alongside your amazing life partner,” Costantini tells O’Shaughnessy, fighting back tears.
Both men and women might tear tendons or develop liver tumors, severe acne, elevated blood pressure, heart problems, issues with anger and depression.
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Related 51Թs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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