rend

[ rend ]
See synonyms for: rendrendingrent on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),rent, rend·ing.
  1. to separate into parts with force or violence: The storm rent the ship to pieces.

  2. to tear apart, split, or divide: racial tension that is rending the nation.

  1. to pull or tear violently (often followed by away, off, up, etc.).

  2. to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.

  3. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.

  4. to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings.

verb (used without object),rent, rend·ing.
  1. to split or tear something.

  2. to become torn or split.

Origin of rend

1
First recorded before 950; Middle English renden,Old English rendan; cognate with Old Frisian renda

synonym study For rend

1. See tear2.

Other words for rend

Other words from rend

  • rend·i·ble, adjective

Words Nearby rend

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rend in a sentence

  • O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and wouldst come down: the mountains would melt away at thy presence.

  • There was no time to have a care for sunken bowlders, reaching up to rend the thin bottom.

    Overland | John William De Forest
  • He answered that he had not; and therefore the Thing threatened to rend him in pieces, but he got rid of it by calling upon God.

    Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams
  • "Positive, Citizen," Barrent said, wondering if rend had recognized him.

    The Status Civilization | Robert Sheckley

British Dictionary definitions for rend

rend

/ (rɛnd) /


verbrends, rending or rent
  1. to tear with violent force or to be torn in this way; rip

  2. (tr) to tear or pull (one's clothes, etc), esp as a manifestation of rage or grief

  1. (tr) (of a noise or cry) to disturb (the air, silence, etc) with a shrill or piercing tone

  2. (tr) to pain or distress (the heart, conscience, etc)

Origin of rend

1
Old English rendan; related to Old Frisian renda

Derived forms of rend

  • rendible, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012