Tear

/tɛər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A drop of clear salty liquid produced by glands in the eyes as a response to emotion, irritation, or other stimuli.

She wiped a tear from her cheek after hearing the sad news.

A state of grief or sorrow expressed by crying.

He was overcome with tears during the emotional scene in the movie.

verb

To pull apart or damage by force.

Be careful not to tear the paper when you unwrap the gift.

To cause to rip or shatter.

The dog managed to tear a hole in the sofa.

Middle English 'tere', from Old English 'tīere', related to the root of 'tear' meaning 'to pull apart'.

tear jerker

A movie or story that evokes strong emotions, often leading to tears.

to be in tears

To be crying or very emotional.

to tear up

To begin to cry or feel emotional.

tear one's hair out

To be extremely frustrated or anxious.

lachrymose

Having a tendency to weep or cry.

rend

To tear something into pieces.

To leave quickly or hurriedly.

I gotta tear outta here before the traffic gets bad.

To enjoy something immensely.

We tore through that movie; it was so good!