Tears are the drops of salty liquid that come out of your eyes when you are crying.
Her eyes filled with tears.
I just broke down and wept with tears of joy.
I didn't shed a single tear.
2. plural noun
You can use tears in expressions such as in tears, burst into tears, and close to tears to indicate that someone is crying or is almost crying.
He was in floods of tears on the phone.
She burst into tears.
She was conscious of being very near to tears.
3. See also crocodile tears
4. blood, sweat, and tears
More Synonyms of tear
tear damaging or moving
(teəʳ)
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tears, present participle tearing, past tense tore, past participle torn
1. verb
If you tear paper, cloth, or another material, or if it tears, you pull it into two pieces or you pull it so that a hole appears in it.
She very nearly tore my overcoat. [VERB noun]
Mary Ann tore the edge off her napkin. [VERB noun preposition]
He took a small notebook from his jacket pocket and tore out a page. [VERB noun with adverb]
Too fine a material may tear. [VERB]
Nancy quickly tore open the envelope. [VERB noun with adjective]
He noticed that fabric was tearing away from the plane's wing. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He went ashore leaving me to start repairing the torn sail. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: run, rip, ladder, snag More Synonyms of tear
Tear up means the same as tear2.
She tore the letter up. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
Don't you dare tear up her ticket. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
...a torn up photograph. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
2. countable noun
A tear in paper, cloth, or another material is a hole that has been made in it.
I peered through a tear in the van's curtains. [+ in]
Synonyms: hole, split, rip, run More Synonyms of tear
3. verb
If something tears your flesh or skin, it cuts it badly.
Canine teeth are for piercing and killing prey, and tearing flesh. [VERB noun]
He had stumbled down and torn the skin from his knees. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: pull apart, claw, lacerate, sever More Synonyms of tear
4. verb
If you tear one of your muscles or ligaments, or if it tears, you injure it by accidentally moving it in the wrong way.
He tore a muscle in his right thigh. [VERB noun]
If the muscle is stretched again, it could even tear. [VERB]
...torn ligaments. [VERB-ed]
5. verb
To tear something from somewhere means to remove it roughly and violently.
She tore the windscreen wipers from his car. [VERB noun preposition]
He tore down the girl's photograph, and crumpled it into a ball. [VERB noun with adverb]
Synonyms: pull, seize, rip, grab More Synonyms of tear
6. verb
If a person or animal tears at something, they pull it violently and try to break it into pieces.
Female fans fought their way past bodyguards and tore at his clothes. [VERB + at]
7. verb
If you tear somewhere, you move there very quickly, often in an uncontrolled or dangerous way.
The door flew open and Miranda tore into the room. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Without looking to left or to right, he tore off down the road. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: rush, run, charge, race More Synonyms of tear
8. passive verb
If you say that a place is tornby particular events, you mean that unpleasant events which cause suffering and division among people are happening there.
...a country that has been torn by civil war and foreign invasion since its independence. [beVERB-ed + by]
Synonyms: divide, split, break apart, rupture More Synonyms of tear
-torncombining form
...the riot-torn areas of the city.
9. See also torn, wear and tear
10. to tear a strip off
11. to tear someone to pieces
12. to tear someone to shreds
Phrasal verbs:
See tear apart
See tear away
See tear down
See tear into
See tear off
See tear up
tear in British English1
(tɪə)
noun
1.
a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glands
tears
2.
something shaped like a hanging drop
a tear of amber
Also called (esp Brit): teardrop
Derived forms
tearless (ˈtearless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English tēar, related to Old Frisian, Old Norse tār, Old High German zahar, Greek dakri
tear in British English2
(tɛə)
verbWord forms: tears, tearing, tore or torn
1.
to cause (material, paper, etc) to come apart or (of material, etc) to come apart; rip
2. (transitive)
to make (a hole or split) in (something)
to tear a hole in a dress
3. (intransitive; often foll byalong)
to hurry or rush
to tear along the street
4. (tr; usually foll by away or from)
to remove or take by force
5. (whenintr, often foll by at)
to cause pain, distress, or anguish (to)
it tore at my heartstrings to see the starving child
6. tear one's hair
noun
7.
a hole, cut, or split
8.
the act of tearing
9.
a great hurry; rush
10. on a tear
Derived forms
tearable (ˈtearable)
adjective
tearer (ˈtearer)
noun
Word origin
Old English teran; related to Old Saxon terian, Gothic gatairan to destroy, Old High German zeran to destroy
tear in American English1
(tɛr)
verb transitiveWord forms: tore, torn, ˈtearing
1.
to pull apart or separate into pieces by force; rip or rend (cloth, paper, etc.)
2.
to make or cause by tearing or puncturing
to tear a hole in a dress
3.
to wound by tearing; lacerate
skin torn and bruised
4.
to force apart or divide into factions; disrupt; split
ranks torn by dissension
5.
to divide with doubt, uncertainty, etc.; agitate; torment
a mind torn between duty and desire
6.
to remove by or as by tearing, pulling, etc.
with up, out, away, off, etc.
to tear a plant up by its roots, to tear oneself away
verb intransitive
7.
to be torn
8.
to move violently or with speed; dash
noun
9.
the act of tearing
10.
the result of a tearing; torn place; rent
11.
a rushing pace; great hurry
12. see
wear and tear
13. US, Slang
a carousal; spree
Idioms:
tear at
tear down
tear into
tear it
SYNONYMY NOTE: tear1 implies a pulling apart by force, so as to lacerate or leave ragged edges [to tear wrapping paper]; rip1 suggests a forcible tearing, especially along a seam or in a straight line [to rip a hem]; rend, a somewhat literary term, implies a tearing with violence [the tree was rent by a bolt of lightning]
Derived forms
tearer (ˈtearer)
noun
Word origin
ME teren < OE teran, to rend, akin to Ger zehren, to destroy, consume < IE base *der-, to skin, split > drab1, derma1
tear in American English2
(tɪr)
noun
1.
a drop of the salty fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland to lubricate the eyeball, kill bacteria, etc.: in humans, tears may flow for emotional reasons due to the tightening of muscles near the glands
2.
anything resembling this, as a drop of transparent gum; tearlike mass
3. [pl.]
sorrow; grief
verb intransitive
4.
to fill with tears
Idioms:
in tears
Word origin
ME tere < OE tēar, teagor, akin to Ger zähre < IE *daru, tear > OL dacrima (> L lacrima), Gr dakryon
More idioms containing
tear
tear someone limb from limb
tear a strip off someone
Examples of 'tear' in a sentence
tear
Its first breath the great salt tears of the sea.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The second hijacked airliner had just torn into the south tower and exploded.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are tears of joy in the pavilion.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Quickly tear back the skin to remove.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police fired tear gas to disperse doctors protesting about salaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are many and it is bedlam - speeding ambulances and torn flesh.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many MPs comforted each other as they wiped away tears.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If it's hard to put weight on it and it makes a clicking noise when you move it may be a torn cartilage.
The Sun (2016)
The victim said:'I was in tears again but they were happy this time.
The Sun (2016)
She said:'I left the shop almost in tears.
The Sun (2016)
Is something wrong or is it just wear and tear?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The shrapnel tore the flesh off her right leg from her ankle to her thigh.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You almost saw the tears of joy in his eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The thought of her with another man is tearing me apart.
The Sun (2015)
The bird should be cleanly plucked with no tears in the skin.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
She nailed the draw and she and her team succumbed to tears again.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When spring comes you can cut behind the tear with a saw.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It tears away some of the outer layers of skin cells too.
The Sun (2013)
There was no damage to his fingernails and the bag was not torn in any way.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The force of the shaking had caused tearing and bleeding around the brain.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is a tragedy to see war tear apart its people like this.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Though maybe they were tears of joy.
The Sun (2008)
They were driven back with live rounds and tear gas.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Lies and tears appear to come easy to the defendant.
The Sun (2013)
The kingdom has been torn apart and cannot continue like this.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Skin and hearts tear to make great things.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
To be torn from the country that you love is not something to wish on anyone.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The players are near to tears having put so much into the game.
The Sun (2007)
The stem cells pulled the two pieces of torn cartilage together.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I wonder if all her hot, salty tears will prove a balm or an irritant to the wounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
tear
British English: tear /tɪə/ NOUN
from eyeTears are the liquid that comes out of your eyes when you cry.
Her face was wet with tears.
American English: tear from eye
Arabic: دَمْعَة
Brazilian Portuguese: lágrima
Chinese: 眼泪
Croatian: suza
Czech: slza
Danish: tåre
Dutch: traan oogvocht
European Spanish: lágrima
Finnish: kyynel
French: larme
German: Träne
Greek: δάκρυ
Italian: lacrima
Japanese: 涙 from eye
Korean: 눈물
Norwegian: tåre
Polish: łza
European Portuguese: lágrima
Romanian: lacrimă
Russian: слеза
Latin American Spanish: lágrima
Swedish: tår från öga
Thai: น้ำตา
Turkish: gözyaşı
Ukrainian: сльоза
Vietnamese: nước mắt
British English: tear /tɛə/ NOUN
rip A tear in something is a hole that has been made in it.
His trousers had a tear in one knee.
American English: tear split
Arabic: تـَمَزُّق
Brazilian Portuguese: rasgo
Chinese: 破处
Croatian: poderotina
Czech: trhlina
Danish: flænge
Dutch: scheur
European Spanish: desgarrón
Finnish: repeämä
French: accroc
German: Riss
Greek: σκίσιμο
Italian: strappo
Japanese: 破れ目 split
Korean: 구멍
Norwegian: revne
Polish: rozdarcie
European Portuguese: rasgo
Romanian: ruptură
Russian: разрыв
Latin American Spanish: desgarrón
Swedish: reva
Thai: รอยฉีก
Turkish: yırtık
Ukrainian: розрив
Vietnamese: chỗ rách
British English: tear /tɛə/ VERB
If you tear something, you pull it into pieces or make a hole in it.
Try not to tear the paper.
American English: tear
Arabic: يـُمَزِّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: rasgar
Chinese: 扯
Croatian: poderati
Czech: trhat
Danish: flænge
Dutch: scheuren
European Spanish: rasgar
Finnish: repiä
French: déchirer
German: zerreißen
Greek: σκίζω
Italian: strappare
Japanese: 破る
Korean: 찢다
Norwegian: rive
Polish: podrzeć się
European Portuguese: rasgar
Romanian: a rupe
Russian: рвать разделять на части резким движением
Latin American Spanish: rasgar
Swedish: riva
Thai: ฉีก
Turkish: yırtmak
Ukrainian: рвати
Vietnamese: làm rách
All related terms of 'tear'
tear at
to make violent , pulling motions at in an attempt to tear or remove
tear it
to be that which brings about final failure , defeat, frustration , loss of patience , etc.
tear up
If something such as a road , railway , or area of land is torn up , it is completely removed or destroyed .
tear away
If you tear someone away from a place or activity , you force them to leave the place or stop doing the activity, even though they want to remain there or carry on.
tear bomb
a grenade containing tear gas
tear down
If you tear something down , you destroy it or remove it completely.
tear duct
a short tube in the inner corner of the eyelid through which tears drain into the nose
tear gas
Tear gas is a gas that causes your eyes to sting and fill with tears so that you cannot see . It is sometimes used by the police or army to control crowds .
tear into
If you tear into someone, you criticize them very angrily and strongly.
tear off
If you tear off your clothes , you take them off in a rough and violent way.
on a tear
showing a sudden burst of energy
tear apart
If something tears people apart , it causes them to quarrel or to leave each other.
tear-jerker
If you refer to a play, film, or book as a tear-jerker , you are indicating that it is very sad or sentimental.
tear sheet
a sheet torn , or taken in unbound form, from a publication for special distribution
tear-stained
streaked with tears
wear and tear
Wear and tear is the damage or change that is caused to something when it is being used normally .
crumen
the suborbital gland in sheep, deer , or antelopes
tear one's hair
to be angry , frustrated , very worried , etc
to tear a strip off
If you tear a strip off someone or if you tear them off a strip , you speak to them angrily and criticize them severely.
tearjerker
a pathetic story, play, movie, or the like; an excessively sentimental tale
tear sb limb from limb
If someone threatens to tear you limb from limb , they mean that they are extremely angry with you, and may use violence against you.
tear a strip off someone
to speak angrily or seriously to someone because they have done something wrong
tear someone off a strip
to rebuke (someone) angrily
lacrimal duct
a short tube in the inner corner of the eyelid through which tears drain into the nose
pull your hair out
to be very angry , upset , or anxious about something
to tear someone to shreds rip sb to shreds
If you tear someone to shreds or rip them to shreds , you criticize them very thoroughly and severely.
to tear someone to pieces pull sth to pieces/pick sth to pieces
If someone tears you to pieces , pulls your work to pieces , or picks your work to pieces , they criticize you or your work very severely.
Chinese translation of 'tear'
tear 1
(tɛəʳ)
Word forms:pttore
Word forms:pptorn
n(c)
(= rip, hole) 裂口 (lièkǒu) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= rip) 撕裂 (sīliè)
(= remove violently) 扯 (chě)
vi
(= become torn) 撕破 (sīpò)
(= rush) 飞(飛)奔 (fēibēn)
to tear sth to pieces or to bits or to shreds[paper, letter, clothes]把某物撕成片或小块(塊) 或条(條) (bǎ mǒuwù sīchéng piàn huò xiǎo kuài huò tiáo)
to tear sb to pieces (fig) 与(與)某人激烈争(爭)吵 (yǔ mǒurén jīliè zhēngchǎo)
tear 2
(tɪəʳ)
n(c)
(when crying) 眼泪(淚) (yǎnlèi) (滴, dī)
to be in tears哭泣 (kūqì)
to burst into tears哭起来(來) (kū qǐlái)
All related terms of 'tear'
tear up
( sheet of paper, cheque ) 撕毁(毀) sīhuǐ
tear gas
催泪(淚)弹(彈) cuīlèidàn [ 枚 méi ]
tear off
( clothes ) 脱(脫)掉 tuōdiào
tear away
▶ to tear o.s. away (from sth) 强迫自己离(離)开(開)(某事物) qiǎngpò zìjǐ líkāi (mǒu shìwù)