tear

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tæhher, tēar; akin to Old High German zahar tear, Greek dakry Date: before 12th century 1. a. a drop of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion b. plural a secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face 2. a transparent drop of fluid or hardened fluid matter (as resin) 3. plural an act of weeping or grieving <

broke into tears

> • tearless adjective II. intransitive verb Date: before 12th century to fill with tears ; shed tears <

eyes tearing in the November wind — Saul Bellow

> III. verb (tore; torn; tearing) Etymology: Middle English teren, from Old English teran; akin to Old High German zeran to destroy, Greek derein to skin, Sanskrit dṛṇāti he bursts, tears Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to separate parts of or pull apart by force ; rend b. to wound by or as if by tearing ; lacerate <

tear the skin

> 2. to divide or disrupt by the pull of contrary forces <

a mind torn with doubts

> 3. a. to remove by force ; wrench — often used with off <

tear a cover off a box

> b. to remove as if by wrenching <

tear your thoughts away from the scene

> 4. to make or effect by or as if by tearing <

tear a hole in the wall

> intransitive verb 1. to separate on being pulled ; rend <

this cloth tears easily

> 2. a. to move or act with violence, haste, or force <

went tearing down the street

> b. to smash or penetrate something with violent force <

the bullet tore through his leg

> • tearable adjective • tearer noun Synonyms: tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges <

tear up the letter

>. rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint <

ripped the shirt on a nail

>. rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering <

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

>. split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers <

split logs for firewood

>. cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow <

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

>. rive occurs most often in figurative use <

a political party riven by conflict

>. IV. noun Date: 1611 1. a. damage from being torn; especially a hole or flaw made by tearing b. the act of tearing 2. a. a tearing pace ; hurry b. spree <

got paid and went on a tear

> c. a run of unusual success <

the team was on a tear

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