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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 by up ):
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
- Slang. to 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
- introften foll byalong to hurry or rush
to tear along the street
- tr; usually foll by away or from to remove or take by force
- whenintr, often foll by at to cause pain, distress, or anguish (to)
it tore at my heartstrings to see the starving child
- tear one's hair informal.to be angry, frustrated, very worried, etc
noun
- a hole, cut, or split
- the act of tearing
- a great hurry; rush
- on a tear slang.showing a sudden burst of energy
tear
/ î /
- 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.
Derived Forms
- ˈٱ, adjective
- ˈٱ, adjective
- ˈٱ, noun
Other 51Թ Forms
- ٱa· adjective
- ٱa··ness noun
- ٱİ noun
- un·ٱa· adjective
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, Slang. 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.
More idioms and phrases containing tear
- rip (tear) into
- wear and tear
- tears
- torn
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
The Bruins center breathed deeply, lifted her head and wiped her tears.
“I hope at some point we run out because we have gotten rid of all of them, but we’re looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up.”
"A pudding really shouldn't reduce a child to tears," says Judith Morris, recalling her school days in Harrow.
"In my work, at the protests, I have seen a lot of violence, and tear gas, but having the police in my home, I felt more afraid."
For roughly one minute, a San José Police Department dog tore through the neck of an assailant without hesitation.
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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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