Tear


noun
1.
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: teardrop.
2.
this fluid appearing in or flowing from the eye as the result of emotion, especially grief:
to shed tears.
3.
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:
teardrop earrings.
4.
Glassmaking. a decorative air bubble enclosed in a glass vessel; air bell.
5.
tears, grief; sorrow.
verb (used without object)
6.
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.
Idioms
7.
in tears, weeping:
He was in tears over the death of his dog.
verb (used with object), tore or (Archaic) tare, torn or (Archaic) tare, tearing.
1.
to pull apart or in pieces by force, especially so as to leave ragged or irregular edges.
Synonyms: rend, rip, rive.
Antonyms: mend, repair, sew.
2.
to pull or snatch violently; wrench away with force:
to tear wrappings from a package; to tear a book from someone’s hands.
3.
to distress greatly:
anguish that tears the heart.
Synonyms: break, crack, shatter, afflict.
4.
to divide or disrupt:
a country torn by civil war.
Synonyms: disunite, split, splinter.
Antonyms: unite, reunite, join, bind.
5.
to wound or injure by or as if by rending; lacerate.
Synonyms: cut, mangle, slash.
6.
to produce or effect by rending:
to tear a hole in one’s coat.
7.
to remove by force or effort:
to be unable to tear oneself from a place.
verb (used without object), tore or (Archaic) tare, torn or (Archaic) tare, tearing.
8.
to become torn.
9.
to make a tear or rent.
10.
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
11.
the act of tearing.
12.
a rent or fissure.
Synonyms: rip, rift, rupture.
13.
a rage or passion; violent flurry or outburst.
14.
Informal. a spree.
Verb phrases
15.
tear at,

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.

16.
tear down,

to pull down; destroy; demolish.
to disparage or discredit:
to tear down one’s friends behind their backs.

17.
tear into, 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.

18.
tear off, Slang. to perform or do, especially rapidly or casually:
to tear off a poem; to tear off a set of tennis.
19.
tear up,

to tear into small shreds:
He tore up the drawings because she had criticized them.
Synonyms: rip up.
to cancel or annul:
to tear up a contract.

Idioms
20.
tear it, Slang. to ruin all hope; spoil everything.
21.
tear one’s hair, to manifest extreme anxiety, grief, anger, or frustration:
I’m so upset, I could just tear my hair out.
Also, tear one’s hair out.
noun
1.
a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glands See tears
2.
something shaped like a hanging drop: a tear of amber
verb tears, tearing, tore, torn
1.
to cause (material, paper, etc) to come apart or (of material, etc) to come apart; rip
2.
(transitive) to make (a hole or split) in (something): to tear a hole in a dress
3.
(intransitive) often foll by along. to hurry or rush: to tear along the street
4.
(transitive; usually foll by away or from) to remove or take by force
5.
when intr, often foll by at. to cause pain, distress, or anguish (to): it tore at my heartstrings to see the starving child
6.
(informal) tear one’s hair, to be angry, frustrated, very worried, etc
noun
7.
a hole, cut, or split
8.
the act of tearing
9.
a great hurry; rush
10.
(slang) on a tear, showing a sudden burst of energy

tear 1 (târ)
n.
A rip or rent in a material or structure.

tear 2 (tēr)
n.
A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lacrimal gland of the eye to lubricate the surface between the eyeball and eyelid and to wash away irritants.
tear
(tîr)
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.
tea pad
tear 2
tear 1

Read Also:

  • Tearable

    verb (used with object), tore or (Archaic) tare, torn or (Archaic) tare, tearing. 1. to pull apart or in pieces by force, especially so as to leave ragged or irregular edges. Synonyms: rend, rip, rive. Antonyms: mend, repair, sew. 2. to pull or snatch violently; wrench away with force: to tear wrappings from a package; […]

  • Tear apart

    1. Upset or make distraught, as in The parents’ divorce tore apart the grandparents. [ Second half of 1800s ] 2. Criticize severely, as in The professor tore her paper apart. [ Mid-1900s ] 3. Search some place completely, as in The police tore the house apart. [ Second half of 1900s ] 4. Separate, […]

  • Tear around

    Move about in excited or angry haste, as in He tore around the house, looking for the dog. [ Second half of 1700s ]

  • Tear-at

    verb (used with object), tore or (Archaic) tare, torn or (Archaic) tare, tearing. 1. to pull apart or in pieces by force, especially so as to leave ragged or irregular edges. Synonyms: rend, rip, rive. Antonyms: mend, repair, sew. 2. to pull or snatch violently; wrench away with force: to tear wrappings from a package; […]

  • Tearaway

    adjective 1. designed to be easily separated or opened by tearing: a box with a tearaway seal. noun 2. British. a wild, reckless person.


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