Word Games Pro Dictionary

tear

noun verb

A hole or break caused by tearing.

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
4
Starts with
T
Ends with
R
Contains
EA
Scrabble score
4
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

tɪə

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Audio Pronunciation

Audio pronunciation is unavailable for this word.

Meaning

Definitions

noun

  1. A hole or break caused by tearing.

    “A small tear is easy to mend, if it is on the seam.”

  2. A rampage.

    “to go on a tear”

verb

  1. To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.

    “He tore his coat on the nail.”

  2. To injure as if by pulling apart.

    “He has a torn ligament.”

  3. To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

    “He was torn by conflicting emotions.”

  4. To make (an opening) with force or energy.

    “A piece of debris tore a tiny straight channel through the satellite.”

  5. (often with off or out) To remove by tearing.

    “Tear the coupon out of the newspaper.”

  6. (of structures, with down) To demolish

    “The slums were torn down to make way for the new development.”

  7. To become torn, especially accidentally.

    “My dress has torn.”

  8. To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.

    “He tore into the backlog of complaints.”

  9. To smash or enter something with great force.

    “The chain shot tore into the approaching line of infantry.”

noun

  1. A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.

    “Ryan wiped the tear from the paper he was crying on.”

  2. Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

  3. (glass manufacture) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

  4. That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.

verb

  1. To produce tears.

    “Her eyes began to tear in the harsh wind.”

In context

Example Sentences

A small tear is easy to mend, if it is on the seam.
to go on a tear
He tore his coat on the nail.
He has a torn ligament.
He was torn by conflicting emotions.
A piece of debris tore a tiny straight channel through the satellite.
Tear the coupon out of the newspaper.
The slums were torn down to make way for the new development.
My dress has torn.
He tore into the backlog of complaints.
The chain shot tore into the approaching line of infantry.
Ryan wiped the tear from the paper he was crying on.
Her eyes began to tear in the harsh wind.

Similar words

Synonyms

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