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Tear Very Common

Tear has 13 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands

"his story brought tears to her eyes"

2

an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart

"there was a rip in his pants"

"she had snags in her stockings"

3

an occasion for excessive eating or drinking

"they went on a bust that lasted three days"

4

the act of tearing

"he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear"

5

A hole or break caused by tearing.

"A single tear rolled down her cheek as she heard the sad news."

6

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

In plain English: A tear is a drop of liquid that comes from your eye when you are crying, hurt, or very emotional.

"A sudden tear in her stocking made her feel self-conscious while she was dancing."

Usage: Use "tear" as a noun when referring to an involuntary drop of fluid shed during sadness or physical irritation, rather than for intentional actions like ripping fabric. Distinguish it carefully from similar words that describe the act itself or other types of liquid discharge depending on your intended meaning.

Verb
1

separate or cause to separate abruptly

"The rope snapped"

"tear the paper"

2

to separate or be separated by force

"planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars"

3

move quickly and violently

"The car tore down the street"

"He came charging into my office"

4

strip of feathers

"pull a chicken"

"pluck the capon"

5

fill with tears or shed tears

"Her eyes were tearing"

6

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

"The sad news made her tear up as she read the letter."

7

To produce tears.

In plain English: To tear something means to pull it apart so that it rips into pieces.

"She had to tear up her old photographs before they were damaged by water."

Example Sentences
"A sudden tear in her stocking made her feel self-conscious while she was dancing." noun
"She had to tear up her old photographs before they were damaged by water." verb
"She tried to tear open the package but it was too tightly sealed." verb
"The strong wind will eventually tear down that old shed in the backyard." verb
"He couldn't stop himself from tearing up when he heard the sad news." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
drop opening revel separation separate rush strip cry
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
piss-up laceration rent lacerate rend shred cleave rip

Origin

The word "tear" comes from the Old English verb teran, meaning to lacerate or rip apart. Its roots trace back through Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European languages to an original sense of tearing things apart.

Rhyming Words
ear dear near hear year bear fear mear lear pear rear wear sear arear shear spear abear drear grear blear
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