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tear - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'tear' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Tear [ n.]
- A drop of the limpid, saline fluid secreted, normally in small amount, by the lachrymal gland, and diffused between the eye and the eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion. Ordinarily the secretion passes through the lachrymal duct into the nose, but when it is increased by emotion or other causes, it overflows the lids.
- Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.
- That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.
- The act of tearing, or the state of being torn; a rent; a fissure.
2 . Tear [ v. i.]
- To divide or separate on being pulled; to be rent; as, this cloth tears easily.
- To move and act with turbulent violence; to rush with violence; hence, to rage; to rave.
3 . Tear [ v. t.]
- To separate by violence; to pull apart by force; to rend; to lacerate; as, to tear cloth; to tear a garment; to tear the skin or flesh.
- Hence, to divide by violent measures; to disrupt; to rend; as, a party or government torn by factions.
- To rend away; to force away; to remove by force; to sunder; as, a child torn from its home.
- To pull with violence; as, to tear the hair.
- To move violently; to agitate.

Meaning of 'tear' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . tear [ n]
Meaning (1):
- the act of tearing
Example in sentence:
  • he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear
Meaning (2):
- a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands
Example in sentence:
  • his story brought tears to her eyes
Meaning (3):
- an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart
Example in sentence:
  • she had snags in her stockings;
  • there was a rip in his pants
Meaning (4):
- an occasion for excessive eating or drinking
Example in sentence:
  • they went on a bust that lasted three days
5 . tear [ v]
Meaning (5):
- move quickly and violently
Example in sentence:
  • He came charging into my office;
  • The car tore down the street
Meaning (6):
- fill with tears or shed tears
Example in sentence:
  • Her eyes were tearing
Meaning (7):
- to separate or be separated by force
Example in sentence:
  • planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars
Meaning (8):
- strip of feathers
Example in sentence:
  • pluck the capon;
  • pull a chicken
Meaning (9):
- separate or cause to separate abruptly
Example in sentence:
  • tear the paper;
  • The rope snapped

Nearby Words:

tea tea-saucer teaberry teach teachable teachableness teache teacher teaching teachless

See 'tear' also in:

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