tear
15 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of TEAR
1
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to separate (something) into parts by pulling it, cutting it, etc.
:
to rip, split, or open (something) quickly or violently
[+ object]
-
He tore the letter in half.
-
They began tearing their presents open.
-
He tore apart the two tickets and handed one to me.
-
The dog tore the pillow to pieces/shreds.
[no object]
-
Tear along the dotted line.
2
a
:
to make (a hole or opening) in a piece of clothing, a piece of paper, etc., usually by cutting it on something sharp
[+ object]
-
She tore a hole in her sock when she jumped over the fence.
[no object]
-
His coat got caught on a nail and tore.
-
His pants tore at the seam.
b
[+ object]
:
to make (a hole, a path) in a violent or forceful way
— sometimes used figuratively
-
The explosion tore a hole in the side of the building.
-
The new evidence could tear a hole in their theory. [=it could show that their theory is not correct]
3
[+ object]
:
to cut or injure (skin, a muscle, etc.)
-
He tore a ligament in his left knee during football practice.
-
a torn leg muscle
-
When she fell, she tore the skin on her elbow.
4
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[+ object]
:
to remove (something) quickly or violently
-
The curtains had been torn from the windows.
-
She tore the book out of my hands.
-
They decided to tear out the kitchen's old cabinets.
-
He tore the page out of the magazine.
-
I wanted to tear her head off!
-
He tore off a piece of bread and ate it.
-
She tore a corner off of a sheet of paper and wrote her number on it.
-
Open up or we'll tear down this door!
-
The police officer grabbed him, but he managed to tear himself loose/free. [=to pull himself away from the police officer]
5
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to go or move very quickly
-
The kids tore into the house and up the stairs.
-
We watched the cars tear around the track.
-
He went tearing down the street on his bicycle.
-
The fire tore through the forest.
-
An epidemic was tearing through the region.
-
The bullet tore through his leg.
6
[+ object]
:
to damage or harm (something, such as a country) very badly
— usually used as (be) torn
-
The region has been torn [=ravaged] by disease and hunger for the last 50 years.
-
a country torn by violence
-
a war-torn country
7
[+ object]
:
to cause (someone) to feel confused, upset, etc., especially about making a choice or decision
— often + apart or up
— usually used as (be) torn
— often + between
-
I can't decide, and it's tearing me apart!
-
It's tearing me up (inside).
-
I've been trying to decide, but I'm still torn. [=I'm still unable to decide]
-
She was torn by conflicting loyalties.
-
He is torn between his career and his responsibilities as a father.
-
a person torn between two lovers
tear apart
[phrasal verb]
1
tear (something) apart
or
tear apart (something)
:
to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
— often used figuratively
-
I couldn't open the box nicely, so I just tore it apart.
-
The robbers tore apart the house [=they made a mess in the house] looking for the money.
-
We tore the other team apart [=we easily beat the other team] in yesterday's game.
-
Civil war threatened to tear apart the country.
-
We can't agree, and it's tearing our family apart.
2
tear (someone or something) apart
or
tear apart (someone or something)
:
to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.
—
see also 1tear 1, 7 (above)
-
The article tears apart the government's handling of the situation.
-
I thought it was a good movie, but she tore it apart.
-
They tore him apart when he left.
tear at
[phrasal verb]
tear at (someone or something)
:
to attack and pull pieces from (something) in a violent way
— often used figuratively
-
The cat tore at my pants with its claws.
-
wolves tearing at a dead deer
-
Those two are always tearing at each other's throats. [=always arguing with and harshly criticizing each other]
-
Her sadness tore at his heart. [=made him very upset/unhappy]
tear away
[phrasal verb]
tear (someone or something) away
:
to cause (someone) to leave or move away from something
—
see also tearaway
-
I needed to leave the party, but I couldn't tear myself away.
-
She couldn't tear him away from the TV.
-
He couldn't tear his eyes away from the TV. [=he could not stop watching the TV]
tear down
[phrasal verb]
tear down (something)
or
tear (something) down
:
to completely destroy (something, such as a building or wall)
— often used figuratively
-
They tore down the old hospital and built a new one.
-
We're planning to tear down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room.
-
tearing down walls of injustice
-
They're trying to tear his reputation down.
tear into
[phrasal verb] informal
1
tear into (something)
:
to begin doing (something) in a very quick or forceful way
-
The kids tore into the pizza. [=quickly began eating the pizza]
-
The band tore into the next song with a lot of energy.
2
tear into (someone or something)
:
to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way
-
My father tore into me for coming home an hour late.
-
The critics tore into her performance in the movie.
tear (someone) limb from limb
tear (someone) off a strip
tear (someone or something) to pieces/shreds
:
to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way
—
see also 1tear 1 (above)
-
They tore my idea to pieces.
-
The actress was torn to shreds in the press.
tear up
[phrasal verb]
1
tear up (something)
or
tear (something) up
:
to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces
— often used figuratively
-
I tore the letter up and threw it away.
-
They offered to tear up his old contract [=get rid of his old contract] and give him a new one.
-
The burglars tore the house up. [=made a mess in the house]
2
:
to break apart and remove pieces of (something)
-
The city tore the street up to fix a broken water main.
-
They tore up 20 acres of forest and built a new shopping mall.
3
chiefly US, informal
:
to perform very well on or in (something)
-
They were tearing up the dance floor. [=they were dancing in very skillful, energetic, and impressive way]
-
He tore up the league last season.
tear your hair out
that's torn it
British, informal
— used to say that something is no longer possible
-
Well, that's torn it. Now everyone knows my little secret.
-
That's torn it: the deal's off!
—
compare 4tear
2
tear
/ˈteɚ/
noun
plural
tears
2
tear
/ˈteɚ/
noun
plural
tears
Britannica Dictionary definition of TEAR
[count]
:
a hole or opening in something (such as a piece of paper or cloth) that is made by cutting it or tearing it
-
The nail left a tear in his jacket.
-
She had a tear in her stockings.
-
She suffered a partial tear of the ligament in her right knee.
on a tear
US, informal
:
having great success over a period of time
-
The team has been on a tear in recent weeks. [=has been playing very well, has been winning a lot of games]
-
The economy is on a tear, but can it last?
wear and tear
—
compare 3tear
plural
tears
plural
tears
Britannica Dictionary definition of TEAR
[count]
:
a drop of liquid that comes from your eyes especially when you cry
:
teardrop
-
A single tear ran down his cheek.
-
She wiped the tears from her eyes.
-
Let me wipe away your tears.
-
She was crying/weeping tears of anger/frustration/shame.
-
tear-filled eyes
-
That song brings a tear to my eye [=makes me cry a little] every time I hear it.
-
She suddenly burst into tears. [=started to cry]
-
He looked like he was close to tears. [=going to cry soon]
-
Come now. Dry your tears [=stop crying] and try to be happy.
-
I tried to fight back the tears. [=I tried not to cry]
-
I couldn't hold back my tears. [=I could not stop myself from crying]
-
The memory brought on a sudden flood of tears.
-
We were laughing so hard that we were in tears. [=tears were coming out of our eyes]
-
Everyone in the audience was moved to tears by their performance. [=their performance made everyone cry]
-
His hateful words reduced me to tears. [=they made me cry]
blink back/away tears
bore you to tears
dissolve in/into tears
end in tears
:
to have an ending in which people are crying or unhappy
-
In our family, discussions about money always seem to end in tears.
shed tears
:
to cry or weep
-
They shed tears of joy/gratitude when they heard the news.
-
I never saw my father shed a single tear, even when my mother died.
—
see also crocodile tears
4
tear
/ˈtiɚ/
verb
tears;
teared;
tearing
4
tear
/ˈtiɚ/
verb
tears;
teared;
tearing
Britannica Dictionary definition of TEAR
[no object]
:
to fill with tears
— often + up
-
Why do your eyes tear when you cut onions?
-
His eyes started tearing up. = He started tearing up.
—
compare 1tear
