verb, tore or (Archaic
) tare, torn or (Archaic
) tare, tear⋅ing; noun | 1. | to pull apart or in pieces by force, esp. so as to leave ragged or irregular edges. |
| 2. | to pull or snatch violently; wrench away with force: to tear wrappings from a package; to tear a book from someone's hands. |
| 3. | to distress greatly: anguish that tears the heart. |
| 4. | to divide or disrupt: a country torn by civil war. |
| 5. | to wound or injure by or as if by rending; lacerate. |
| 6. | to produce or effect by rending: to tear a hole in one's coat. |
| 7. | to remove by force or effort: to be unable to tear oneself from a place. |
| 8. | to become torn. |
| 9. | to make a tear or rent. |
| 10. | to move or behave with force, violent haste, or energy: The wind tore through the trees; cars tearing up and down the highway; I was tearing around all afternoon trying to find sandals for the beach. |
| 11. | the act of tearing. |
| 12. | a rent or fissure. |
| 13. | a rage or passion; violent flurry or outburst. |
| 14. | Informal. a spree. |
| 15. | tear at,
|
| 16. | tear down,
|
| 17. | tear into, Informal.
|
| 18. | tear off, Slang. to perform or do, esp. rapidly or casually: to tear off a poem; to tear off a set of tennis. |
| 19. | tear up,
|
| 20. | tear it, Slang. to ruin all hope; spoil everything. |
| 21. | tear one's hair, to tug at one's hair, as with anger or sorrow. Also, tear one's hair out. |

tear 2 (tēr)
n.
A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lacrimal gland of the eye to lubricate the surface between the eyeball and eyelid and to wash away irritants.
| tear (tîr) Pronunciation Key
A drop of the clear salty liquid secreted by glands (lacrimal glands) in the eyes. Tears wet the membrane covering the eye and help rid the eye of irritating substances. |