tear

/ˈter/

Middle English teren, from Old English teran; akin to Old High German zeran to destroy, Greek derein to skin, Sanskrit dṛṇāti he bursts, tears

verb

  1. to separate parts of or pull apart by force : rend

  2. to wound by or as if by pulling apart by force : lacerate

  3. to divide or disrupt by the pull of contrary forces

tear the skin

tear rip rend split cleave rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges. rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

noun

  1. damage from being torn; especially : a hole or flaw made by tearing

  2. the act of tearing something

  3. a hurried and violent rush : a tearing pace

noun

  1. a drop of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion

  2. a secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face

  3. an act of weeping or grieving