tearaway
[ tair-uh-wey ]
/ ˈtɛər əˌweɪ /
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adjective
designed to be easily separated or opened by tearing: a box with a tearaway seal.
noun
British. a wild, reckless person.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of tearaway
First recorded in 1825–35; adj., noun use of verb phrase tear away
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for tearaway
British Dictionary definitions for tearaway
tear away
/ (tɛə) /
verb
(tr, adverb) to persuade (oneself or someone else) to leaveI couldn't tear myself away from the television
noun tearaway
British
- a reckless impetuous unruly person
- (as modifier)a tearaway young man
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
Idioms and Phrases with tearaway
tear away
Remove oneself unwillingly or reluctantly, as in I couldn't tear myself away from that painting. [Late 1700s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.