tear

[tɛr]

tear Definition

  • 1to pull or rip something apart or into pieces with force
  • 2a drop of salty liquid that comes out of your eye when you cry
  • 3a hole or a cut in a piece of clothing, paper, or other material

Using tear: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tear" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She accidentally tore her dress on the fence.

  • Example

    The paper was so thin that it tore easily.

  • Example

    He tore up the letter and threw it away.

  • Example

    She couldn't hold back her tears and began to cry.

tear Synonyms and Antonyms

Idioms Using tear

  • crying

    Example

    She was in tears after hearing the sad news.

  • tear one's hair out

    to be extremely upset or frustrated

    Example

    I've been trying to fix this computer for hours and I'm ready to tear my hair out!

  • tear someone/something to shreds/pieces

    to criticize or attack someone or something harshly

    Example

    The movie was so bad that the critics tore it to shreds in their reviews.

Phrases with tear

  • to destroy or damage something completely

    Example

    The hurricane tore apart the small town.

  • to demolish or destroy a building or structure

    Example

    The city decided to tear down the old bridge and build a new one.

  • tear up

    to rip into small pieces

    Example

    She tore up the old love letters and threw them away.

Origins of tear

from Old English 'teran', meaning 'to lacerate'

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Summary: tear in Brief

The verb 'tear' [tɛr] means to forcefully pull or rip something apart, while the noun refers to a drop of salty liquid that comes out of your eye when you cry or a hole or cut in a piece of material. Examples include 'She accidentally tore her dress on the fence.' and 'She couldn't hold back her tears and began to cry.' Phrases like 'tear apart' and 'tear down' denote destruction, while idioms like 'in tears' and 'tear one's hair out' express emotional states.

How do native speakers use this expression?