noun
- A drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands.
- usage: "his story brought tears to her eyes"
- synonyms: teardrop
- An opening made forcibly as by pulling apart.
- usage: "there was a rip in his pants"; "she had snags in her stockings"
- An occasion for excessive eating or drinking.
- usage: "they went on a bust that lasted three days"
- The act of tearing.
- usage: "he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear"
verb
- Separate or cause to separate abruptly.
- usage: "The rope snapped"; "tear the paper"
- To separate or be separated by force.
- usage: "planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars"
- Move quickly and violently.
- usage: "The car tore down the street"; "He came charging into my office"
- synonyms: shoot, shoot down, charge, buck
- Strip of feathers.
- usage: "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon"
- Fill with tears or shed tears.
- usage: "Her eyes were tearing"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
| APA | WordNet. (2010). Tear. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/tear/definitions/1190287 |
| Chicago | WordNet. 2010. "Tear" http://smartdefine.org/tear/definitions/1190287 (accessed September 21, 2026). |
| Harvard | WordNet 2010, Tear, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/tear/definitions/1190287>. |
| MLA | WordNet. "Tear" 23 October 2010. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/tear/definitions/1190287> |