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
Example
She was in tears after hearing the sad news.
Example
I've been trying to fix this computer for hours and I'm ready to tear my hair out!
Example
The movie was so bad that the critics tore it to shreds in their reviews.
Phrases with tear
Example
The hurricane tore apart the small town.
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'
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.