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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rend in a sentence

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