tear gas

¹

[ teer ]

noun

1. a gas that makes the eyes smart and water, thus producing a temporary blindness, used in modern warfare, to quell riots, etc.

tear-gas

²

[ teer-gas ]

verb (used with object)

, tear-gassed, tear-gas·sing.

1. to subject to tear gas.

tear gas

/ tɪə /

noun

1. any one of a number of gases or vapours that make the eyes smart and water, causing temporary blindness; usually dispersed from grenades and used in warfare and to control riots Also calledlacrimator

Word History and Origins

Origin of tear gas¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Origin of tear gas²

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

As tear gas and bullets fly, students from the affluent suburbs of Yangon and Mandalay, the country’s two biggest cities, are being joined on the barricades by fresh-faced office and factory workers and young miners from the jade diggings of Kachin.

From Time

The sensor, dubbed TRPA1, is common in animals — from flatworms to people — and responds to environmental irritants such as cold, heat, wasabi and tear gas.

From Science News

In this case, the escape hoods were reportedly used because of tear gas in the area, according to The New York Times and other reports.

From Popular-Science

A few minutes later, clouds of tear gas emerged over the crowd, and people ran from the Capitol.

From Washington Post

There were scenes of violence and reports of injuries, tear gas used and flash grenades set off, with all the images hurtling around the globe via television and the Internet.

From Washington Post

Many of those gathering in the run-up to the grand jury decision wore hockey and tear gas masks to conceal their identity.

From The Daily Beast

Although some groups, through the thick fog of tear gas, pepper spray and smoke that hung over the city, still lingered.

From The Daily Beast

Then she added: “There is a beautiful moon and the smoke of tear gas.”

From The Daily Beast

Nor was an eyelash batted when he bought body armor and tear gas from BulletProofBodyArmorHQ.com and BP Arms, respectively.

From The Daily Beast

Citizens in Ferguson have endured tear gas and a militarized police force.

From The Daily Beast

The tear gas which we prepared to manufacture was brombenzyl cyanide.

From Project Gutenberg

Needless to say I had fallen flat, and, as I arose, the sweet smell of tear gas made itself evident.

From Project Gutenberg

Even a trace of tear gas in the air would in a few moments blind a man temporarily.

From Project Gutenberg

Gassing the enemy with tear gas was much cheaper than with poison gas, yet it forced him to remain masked.

From Project Gutenberg

This time he and his followers were stopped at a bridge in Selma, Alabama, by state troopers using tear gas and clubs.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• poison gas