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tear
(redirected from tears into)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia 0.01 sec.
tear 1  (târ)
v. tore (tôr, tr), torn (tôrn, trn), tear·ing, tears
v.tr.
1. To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.
2. To make (an opening) by ripping: tore a hole in my stocking.
3. To lacerate (the skin, for example).
4. To separate forcefully; wrench: tore the wrappings off the present.
5. To divide or disrupt: was torn between opposing choices; a country that was torn by strife.
v.intr.
1. To become torn.
2. To move with heedless speed; rush headlong.
n.
1. The act of tearing.
2. The result of tearing; a rip or rent.
3. A great rush; a hurry.
4. Slang A carousal; a spree.
Phrasal Verbs:
tear around Informal
1. To move about in excited, often angry haste.
2. To lead a wild life.
tear at
1. To pull at or attack violently: The dog tore at the meat.
2. To distress greatly: Their plight tore at his heart.
tear away
To remove (oneself, for example) unwillingly or reluctantly.
tear down
1. To demolish: tear down old tenements.
2. To take apart; disassemble: tear down an engine.
3. To vilify or denigrate.
tear into
To attack with great vigor or violence: tore into the food; tore into his opponent.
tear off Informal
To produce hurriedly and casually: tearing off article after news article.
tear up
1. To tear to pieces.
2. To make an opening in: tore up the sidewalk to add a drain.
Idiom:
tear (one's) hair
To be greatly upset or distressed.

[Middle English teren, from Old English teran; see der- in Indo-European roots.]

tearer n.
Synonyms: tear1, rip1, rend, split, cleave1
These verbs mean to separate or pull apart by force. Tear involves pulling something apart or into pieces: "She tore the letter in shreds" (Edith Wharton).
Rip implies rough or forcible tearing: Carpenters ripped up the old floorboards.
Rend usually refers to violent tearing or wrenching apart: "Come as the winds come, when/Forests are rended" (Sir Walter Scott).
To split is to cut or break something into parts or layers, especially along its entire length or along a natural line of division: "They [wood stumps] warmed me twiceonce while I was splitting them, and again when they were on the fire" (Henry David Thoreau).
Cleave most often refers to splitting with or as if with a sharp instrument: The butcher cleft the side of beef into smaller portions.

tear 2  (tîr)
n.
1.
a. A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lachrymal gland of the eye to lubricate the surface between the eyeball and eyelid and to wash away irritants.
b. tears A profusion of this liquid spilling from the eyes and wetting the cheeks, especially as an expression of emotion.
c. tears The act of weeping: criticism that left me in tears.
2. A drop of a liquid or hardened fluid.
intr.v. teared, tear·ing, tears
To fill with tears.

[Middle English, from Old English tar; see dakru- in Indo-European roots.]

tear1
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glands See tears
2. something shaped like a hanging drop a tear of amber Also called teardrop
[Old English tēar, related to Old Frisian, Old Norse tār, Old High German zahar, Greek dakri]
tearless  adj

tear2
vb tears, tearing, tore, torn
1. to cause (material, paper, etc.) to come apart or (of material, etc.) to come apart; rip
2. (tr) to make (a hole or split) in (something) to tear a hole in a dress
3. (intr; often foll by along) to hurry or rush to tear along the street
4. (tr; usually foll by away or from) to remove or take by force
5. (when intr, often foll by at) to cause pain, distress, or anguish (to) it tore at my heartstrings to see the starving child
tear one's hair Informal to be angry, frustrated, very worried, etc.
n
1. a hole, cut, or split
2. the act of tearing
3. a great hurry; rush
on a tear Slang showing a sudden burst of energy See also tear away, tear down, tear into, tear off, torn
[Old English teran; related to Old Saxon terian, Gothic gatairan to destroy, Old High German zeran to destroy]
tearable  adj
tearer  n

tear  (tîr)
A drop of the clear salty liquid secreted by glands (lacrimal glands) in the eyes. Tears wet the membrane covering the eye and help rid the eye of irritating substances.

tear


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