teardropn.
/ˈtɪədrɒp/, U.S. /ˈtɪrˌdrɑp/ 1. A single tear in or falling from the eye. Cf. tear n.1 1.
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1789 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. II iii. 110 Drink deep, sweet youths, seductive Vitis cries, The maudlin tear-drop glittering in her eyes.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Talking Oak xli, in Poems (new ed.) II. 74 A teardrop trembled from its source, And down my surface crept.
1870 Waukesha (Wisconsin) Freeman 9 June Every eye in the court room was dimmed by glistening teardrops.
1927 C. Mackenzie Vestal Fire ii. viii. 276 Two great teardrops rolled..down those massive cheeks.
1988 ‘Womack & Womack’ Teardrops (transcribed from song) in Conscience Footsteps on the dance floor (remind me baby of you) Teardrops in my eyes (next time I'll be true).
2017 R. Marlin New Lone Ranger 95 A single teardrop rolled down her left cheek.
2. In extended use: something resembling a teardrop in shape, especially in being broadly curved at one end and tapering to a point at the other; spec. (a) a jewel or bead having or cut in a teardrop shape (cf. teardrop diamond at Compounds 1, teardrop pearl n. at Compounds 2); (b) a teardrop-shaped run in paintwork or ceramic glaze; (c) a type of very small, light caravan resembling a teardrop in having a curved rear end (often housing a kitchen accessed from the outside) and tapering to become more shallow at the point where it is hitched to a vehicle.
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1870 C. Wilburn Lost & Found xvi, in Ladies' Own Mag. (Indianapolis) Sept. 264/2 Ornaments of pearl pended from her ears, a necklace of the same sweet teardrops closed around her shapely throat.
1904 Burlington Mag. Feb. 141/1 Immediately under the bowl at the top of the stem is an air cavity, known as a ‘tear-drop’..a very frequent form of decoration.
1922 M. Toch How to paint Permanent Pictures 79 A very heavy-bodied Linseed Oil,..was so viscous that it flowed down..and formed ‘curtains’, and teardrops.
1942 Santa Ana (Calif.) Reg. 6 Aug. 16/8 (advt.) Ideal Camping Trailer, not a tear-drop, like new, good tires.
1947 C. Brunetti & B. W. Curtis Printed Circuit Techniques (U.S. Dept. Commerce) 13/1 The principal drawback to this method is the inability to control the thickness of the paint. Tear drops are formed and an uneven distribution of paint usually results.
1971 Homewood-Flossmoor (Illinois) Star 19 Dec. e5/6 The bride wore a choker of pearls and a single flower headpiece of pearls, diamond teardrops and lace overlaid with three tiers of ivory netting.
1981 R. Bragonier & D. Fisher What's What 324 Surfboards range in size... A pig board or tear drop is a board shaped like a pie wedge.
2014 Gazette (Janesville, Wisconsin) 8 June 3 c/2 Teardrops are a cozy camping option for two snuggly people.
Compounds
C1. As a modifier, designating items shaped like a teardrop, especially in being broadly curved at one end and tapering to a point at the other; as in teardrop diamond, teardrop earring, teardrop trailer, etc. Cf. sense 2.
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1907 Philadelphia Inquirer 10 Oct. 7/4 Necklaces, Brooches, quaint, long tear-drop Earrings.
1936 Pop. Sci. Apr. 32/2 (caption) A ‘teardrop’ trailer designed to accommodate two persons. Below, one of the smaller units that have cooking facilities at rear.
1936 Times 29 Dec. 12/6 The new design will allow the manufacturer [of motor vehicles] to indulge in the ‘tear-drop’ streamlining which has often been discussed in recent years but never achieved.
1948 Shell Aviation News No. 115. 6/1 A 25-foot, streamlined, teardrop antenna will project below the fuselage.
1959 Wichita Falls (Texas) Times 21 June 3 c/4 The other attendants carried tear drop bouquets of pale pink carnations.
1964 Valley News (Van Nuys, Calif.) 22 Oct. 16 b/5 Smaller ‘teardrop’ trailers accommodate a couple and are easily towed by the smallest compact car.
1978 Sunday Times 12 Nov. 43/1 Kenzo showed huge crystal teardrop earrings.
1982 Pop. Sci. May 108/3 A streamlined, teardrop body enables the California Commuter to cruise at 55mph with 155mpg.
2014 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 22 Feb. 3 [She] was yesterday spotted wearing the glittering ring, thought to be made of platinum with a teardrop diamond.
C2.
teardrop pearl n. a pearl resembling a teardrop, having a broadly oval shape that tapers towards the top.This shape is also known as a pear pearl or drop-pearl (see pear pearl n., drop-pearl n.).
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1904 Lincoln (Nebraska) Daily Star 8 Apr. 4/6 There are cut crystals; imported, tinted pearls; large ‘teardrop’ pearls set like a flower with gold or silver filigree calyx.
1980 D. Creed Scarab i. 9 A large and most marvellous pendant..suspending a teardrop pearl.
2010 Leader-Post (Regina, Saskatchewan) (Nexis) 11 Sept. f3 Impeccably dressed in a black suit, accented with a necklace from which dangled three teardrop pearls.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2022).
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n.1789