Definition of "tear" in English

verb

1. (transitive) To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.

   • He tore his coat on the nail.

2. (transitive) To injure as if by pulling apart.

   • He tore some muscles in a weight-lifting accident.

3. (transitive) To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

   • He was torn by conflicting emotions.

4. (transitive) To make (an opening) with force or energy.

   • A piece of debris tore a tiny straight channel through the satellite.
   • His boss will tear him a new one when he finds out.
   • The artillery tore a gap in the line.

5. (transitive, often with off or out) To remove by tearing, or with sudden great force.

   • Tear the coupon out of the newspaper.

6. (transitive, of structures, with down) To demolish.

   • The slums were torn down to make way for the new development.

7. (intransitive) To become torn, especially accidentally.

   • My dress has torn.

8. (intransitive) To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.

   • He went tearing down the hill at 90 miles per hour.
   • The tornado lingered, tearing through town, leaving nothing upright.
   • He tore into the backlog of complaints.

9. (intransitive) To smash or enter something with great force.

   • The chain shot tore into the approaching line of infantry.

10. (computing, intransitive) To be interrupted midway through.

    • torn write

noun

1. A hole or break caused by tearing.

   • A small tear is easy to mend, if it is on the seam.

2. (slang) A rampage.

   • to go on a tear

noun

1. A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.

   • Big tears streamed from Lisa's eyes, rolling down her cheeks.
   • Ryan wiped the tear from the paper he was crying on.

2. Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

3. (glass manufacture) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.