tear

[tɛr]

tear Definition

• 1. to pull or rip something apart or into pieces with force
• 2. a drop of salty liquid that comes out of your eye when you cry
• 3. a 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

Synonyms for tear

• rip
• rend
• shred
• split
• separate
• laceration
• cut
• hole
• rent

Antonyms for tear

• mend
• repair
• sew
• stitch

Idioms Using tear

• in tears

  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

• tear apart

  to destroy or damage something completely

  Example

  The hurricane tore apart the small town.

• tear down

  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.