tear
1a 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.
this fluid appearing in or flowing from the eye as the result of emotion, especially grief: to shed tears.
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: little tears of morning dew.
Glassmaking. a decorative air bubble enclosed in a glass vessel; air bell.
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 about tear
in tears, weeping: He was in tears over the death of his dog.
Origin of tear
1Other words for tear
Words Nearby tear
Other definitions for tear (2 of 2)
to pull apart or in pieces by force, especially so as to leave ragged or irregular edges.
to pull or snatch violently; wrench away with force: to tear wrappings from a package; to tear a book from someone's hands.
to distress greatly: anguish that tears the heart.
to divide or disrupt: a country torn by civil war.
to wound or injure by or as if by rending; lacerate.
to produce or effect by rending: to tear a hole in one's coat.
to remove by force or effort: to be unable to tear oneself from a place.
to become torn.
to make a tear or rent.
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.
the act of tearing.
a rent or fissure.
a rage or passion; violent flurry or outburst.
Informal. a spree.
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.
tear down,
to pull down; destroy; demolish.
to disparage or discredit: to tear down one's friends behind their backs.
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.
tear off, Slang. to perform or do, especially rapidly or casually: to tear off a poem; to tear off a set of tennis.
tear up,
to tear into small shreds:He tore up the drawings because she had criticized them.
to cancel or annul: to tear up a contract.
Origin of tear
2synonym study For tear
Other words for tear
Opposites for tear
Other words from tear
- tear·a·ble, adjective
- tear·a·ble·ness, noun
- tearer, noun
- un·tear·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tear in a sentence
The recent tech stock tear has increased the wealth of Bezos, the richest man in the world, to $205 billion, making him the first person in history to be worth more than $200 billion.
MacKenzie Scott is now the wealthiest woman in the world | ehinchliffe | September 2, 2020 | FortuneThe anti-fray design means you won’t have to deal with all the wear and tear that comes with regular use.
The best ankle weights for a sculpted lower body | PopSci Commerce Team | September 1, 2020 | Popular-ScienceLaugh at “Like Crazy” and don’t be surprised if there’s a tear or two.
Then with my wife almost in tears, he threatened her with jail if she refused to sign.
Tech shares have been on a tear this year as the Covid-19 pandemic drove more people online, lifting the fortunes of the companies’ founders and putting the industry under increased scrutiny.
Elon Musk adds another $8 billion to become world’s fourth-richest person | Verne Kopytoff | August 18, 2020 | Fortune
Sam watches her fall apart, tear herself apart and is desperate.
And then he went on a tear in early 2013, creating one provocation after another, seemingly every day for more than two months.
As Kate was driven away, she appeared to wipe a tear from her eye.
Tearful Kate Weeps After Meeting Mother Whose Baby Died | Tom Sykes | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMany of those gathering in the run-up to the grand jury decision wore hockey and tear gas masks to conceal their identity.
Justice Was Served in Ferguson—This Isn’t Jim Crow America | Ron Christie | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn other news, black and white pin-up shots are now officially less valuable than life-size Tiger Beat tear outs.
Justin Bieber Isn’t Even 21, Yet Makes More Money Than Meryl Streep | Amy Zimmerman | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLouis turned at the exclamation, and looked on the faithful servant; but no tear was in his eye, no sound on his lip.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterBy what word is the relation between “pendulum” and “a smile and tear” described?
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)In the tear-stained story of humanity there has never been aught to surpass the thrilling record of Cawnpore.
The Red Year | Louis TracyIn a short time you will be able, in the language of Dr. Johnson, “to tear out the heart of any book.”
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)The horizon, however, was lowering and hazy, and the sun had not force enough to tear the murky veil asunder.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida Pfeiffer
British Dictionary definitions for tear (1 of 2)
/ (tɪə) /
a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glands: See tears
something shaped like a hanging drop: a tear of amber
Origin of tear
1- Also called (esp Brit): teardrop
Derived forms of tear
- tearless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for tear (2 of 2)
/ (tɛə) /
to cause (material, paper, etc) to come apart or (of material, etc) to come apart; rip
(tr) to make (a hole or split) in (something): to tear a hole in a dress
(intr often foll by along) to hurry or rush: to tear along the street
(tr; usually foll by away or from) to remove or take by force
(when intr, often foll by at) to cause pain, distress, or anguish (to): it tore at my heartstrings to see the starving child
tear one's hair informal to be angry, frustrated, very worried, etc
a hole, cut, or split
the act of tearing
a great hurry; rush
on a tear slang showing a sudden burst of energy
Origin of tear
2Derived forms of tear
- tearable, adjective
- tearer, noun
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
Scientific definitions for 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with tear
In addition to the idioms beginning with tear
- tear apart
- tear around
- tear at
- tear away
- tear down
- tear into
- tear it
- tear off
- tear one's hair
also see:
- rip (tear) into
- wear and tear
Also see undertearstorn.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse