tear Definition

tear¹
noun

1. A drop of clear saline liquid, secreted by the lachrymal gland, that moistens and cleans the front of the eyeball, or overflows from it in response to irritation of the eye or as a result of emotion, especially sorrow.
2. Any pear- or tear-shaped drop or blob.

Derivative: tearless
noun

Idiom: in tears

Crying; weeping.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.

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tear²
verb tore, torn, tearing

1. To pull or rip something apart by force.

Thesaurus: lacerate, rip, shred, rend, gash, mangle, scratch, sever, claw, sunder, mutilate.
2. To pull it violently or with tearing movements.

Form: tear at something (usually)
3. To make (a hole, etc) by, or as if by, tearing or ripping.
intr
4. To come apart; to be pulled or ripped apart.

Example: material that tears easily
intr
5. To rush; to move with speed or force.

Thesaurus: rush, bolt, dart, dash, hurry, run, speed, race, fly, sprint, zoom.
Form: tear along (often)
Form: tear away
Form: tear off

noun

1. A hole or other damage caused by tearing.

Thesaurus: rip, hole, laceration, rupture, snag, run, split, scratch.
2. An act of tearing.
3. Damage.

Example: wear and tear

Idiom: be torn between

To be unable to decide between (two or more options).

Idiom: tear a strip off someone

colloq
To rebuke or reprimand them severely.

Idiom: tear one's hair out

To be in despair with impatience and frustration.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon teran.

Phrasal Verb: tear someone apart

To cause them severe suffering or distress.

Phrasal Verb: tear someone away

To remove or take them by force; to force or persuade them to leave.

Phrasal Verb: tear something down

To pull it down or demolish it using force.

Phrasal Verb: tear into someone

To attack them physically or verbally.

Phrasal Verb: tear something up

To tear it into pieces, especially to destroy it.To remove it from a fixed position by violence or force.