# tear

Pronunciation: say "TAIR" US /tɛɹ/, UK /tɛə/

## Noun

1. A drop of the clear, salty fluid that the eyes release during crying or in response to irritation. (pronounced: say "TEER" US /tɪɹ/, UK /tɪə/)
   - Simple: A drop of salty water that comes from your eyes when you cry or when something gets in them.
   - _A single tear slid down her cheek as the train pulled away._
   - _Chopping onions brought tears to his eyes within seconds._
7. A hole or break produced when material rips or is pulled apart.
   - Simple: A hole or split made when something is pulled apart.
   - _The mechanic noticed a small tear in the seat upholstery._
   - _Years of use had left tears along the tent's seams._
10. Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid; also, a solid, transparent drop of a substance such as a balsam or resin. (pronounced: say "TEER" US /tɪɹ/, UK /tɪə/)
   - Simple: A small clear drop of liquid, or a hard clear drop of dried tree sap.
   - _Each tear of frankincense is graded by size and color before it is sold._
   - _The hardened resin formed amber tears along the wounded bark._
11. A spell of wild, unrestrained or unusually intense activity, such as a spree, a rampage or a long run of success. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A time of wild or nonstop activity, like a spending spree or a long winning streak.
   - _She went on a shopping tear and maxed out two credit cards._
   - _After the insult, he went on a tear, knocking over chairs on his way out._
12. Something that causes or accompanies weeping; a lament or a dirge. *(literary)* (pronounced: say "TEER" US /tɪɹ/, UK /tɪə/)
   - Simple: A very sad song or poem, or anything else that makes people cry.

## Verb

2. To pull a solid material apart at two points so that it rips or separates, whether deliberately or by accident.
   - Simple: To pull something apart so it breaks or splits into pieces.
   - _She tore the letter in half and threw the pieces away._
   - _Workers tear the old fabric into strips before recycling it._
3. To destroy or weaken the unity or coherence of something abstract, such as a community, an institution, or a person's emotions.
   - Simple: To badly damage the way a group, family, or person holds together.
   - _The civil war tore the country apart along ethnic lines._
   - _Scandals like this one tear public trust to shreds._
4. With down, to demolish or pull down a building or other structure.
   - Simple: With down, to destroy a building or other structure completely.
   - _Crews tore down the condemned apartment block in a single week._
   - _Developers tear historic buildings down despite preservationists' objections._
5. To injure something, such as a muscle or ligament, as if by pulling it apart.
   - Simple: To hurt a part of the body by pulling or stretching it too hard.
   - _She tore a ligament in her knee during the soccer match._
   - _Sprinting without warming up can tear a hamstring._
6. To remove something by ripping it away or with sudden, forceful motion.
   - Simple: To pull something away quickly and with force.
   - _The storm tore shingles from rooftops across the neighborhood._
   - _Protesters tear posters from the walls faster than the city can replace them._
8. To move or act at great speed or with intense energy or violence.
   - Simple: To move very fast and with a lot of energy.
   - _A motorcycle tore down the highway, weaving between cars._
   - _Rumors tear through small towns faster than any newspaper._
9. To produce tears, as the eyes do in response to irritation or emotion. (pronounced: say "TEER" US /tɪɹ/, UK /tɪə/)
   - Simple: To make tears, the way eyes do when you cry or when smoke gets in them.
   - _Her eyes teared in the icy wind on the walk home._
   - _Chopping onions always makes my eyes tear._

## Other meanings

- (verb) Of a displayed image or of data being updated, to show parts of two different frames or versions at once because the change was caught partway.
- (noun) A bit of clay, only partially vitrified, embedded in a piece of glass.

## Origin

**Meanings 2–8, 11** — From Middle English teren, from Old English teran ("to tear, lacerate"), going back through Proto-Germanic *teraną to the Proto-Indo-European root *der- ("to tear apart"). It is related to German zerren ("to tug, rip, tear") and Ancient Greek dérō ("to skin"), and is a doublet of tire.
**Meanings 1, 9–10, 12** — From Middle English teer, from Old English tēar, from Proto-Germanic *tahrą ("tear"), from the Proto-Indo-European root *dáḱru- ("tears"). Related words include German Zähre, Irish deoir, and Latin lacrima.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/tear (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).