This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
tear
1[ teer ]
/ tÉȘÉr /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
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.
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.
verb (used without object)
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.
QUIZ
GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!
Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.
Question 1 of 9
Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Idioms about tear
in tears, weeping: He was in tears over the death of his dog.
Origin of tear
1First recorded before 900; Middle English noun ter(e), Old English tÄar, tÄor, tehher, taeher; cognate with Old High German zahar, Old Norse tÄr, Gothic tagr, Greek dĂĄkry, Latin lacrima; verb derivative of the noun; see also lachrymal
Words nearby tear
tea-of-heaven, tea party, teapot, Teapot Dome, teapoy, tear, tear apart, tear around, tear at, tearaway, tear bomb
Other definitions for tear (2 of 2)
OTHER WORDS FOR tear
19a rip up.
Origin of tear
2First recorded before 900; Middle English verb teren, ter(e), tern, Old English teran âto tear, rend, bite, lacerate,â cognate with Dutch teren, Old High German zeran âto destroy,â German zehren âto consume,â Gothic ga-tairan âto tear, destroy,â Greek dĂ©rein âto flay, skinâ
synonym study for tear
1. Tear, rend, rip mean to pull apart. To tear is to split the fibers of something by pulling apart, usually so as to leave ragged or irregular edges: to tear open a letter. Rend implies force or violence in tearing apart or in pieces: to rend one's clothes in grief. Rip implies vigorous tearing asunder, especially along a seam or line: to rip the sleeves out of a coat.
OTHER WORDS FROM tear
tear·a·ble, adjectivetear·a·ble·ness, nountearer, nounun·tear·a·ble, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use tear in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for tear (1 of 2)
tear1
/ (tÉȘÉ) /
noun
a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glandsSee tears
something shaped like a hanging dropa tear of amber
Also called (esp Brit): teardrop
Derived forms of tear
tearless, adjectiveWord Origin for tear
Old English tÄar, related to Old Frisian, Old Norse tÄr, Old High German zahar, Greek dakri
British Dictionary definitions for tear (2 of 2)
tear2
/ (tÉÉ) /
verb tears, tearing, tore or torn
noun
Derived forms of tear
tearable, adjectivetearer, nounWord Origin for tear
Old English teran; related to Old Saxon terian, Gothic gatairan to destroy, Old High German zeran to destroy
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
Medical definitions for tear (1 of 2)
tear 22
[ tĂźr ]
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.
Medical definitions for tear (2 of 2)
tear 11
[ tĂąr ]
n.
A rip or rent in a material or structure.
The American HeritageÂź Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for tear
tear
[ tĂźr ]
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 HeritageÂź Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with tear
tear
The American HeritageÂź Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.