Tear Definition & Meaning

tear
noun
  1. a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands; "his story brought tears to her eyes"
  2. an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart; "there was a rip in his pants"; "she had snags in her stockings"
  3. an occasion for excessive eating or drinking; "they went on a bust that lasted three days"
  4. the act of tearing; "he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear"
verb
  1. separate or cause to separate abruptly; "The rope snapped"; "tear the paper"
  2. to separate or be separated by force; "planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars"
  3. move quickly and violently; "The car tore down the street"; "He came charging into my office"
  4. strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon"
  5. fill with tears or shed tears; "Her eyes were tearing"

Synonyms for tear

bender noun

a tool for bending; "he used pliers as a bender" revelry in drinking

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
binge noun

any act of immoderate indulgence; "an orgy of shopping"; "an emotional binge

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buck noun

a gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated

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bust adj

lacking funds; "`skint' is a British slang term" a complete failure

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charge noun

an impetuous rush toward someone or something; "the wrestler's charge carried him past his adversary

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
deplume verb

strip of honors, possessions, or attributes strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon"

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displume verb

strip of honors, possessions, or attributes strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon"

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pluck noun

the trait of showing courage and determination in spite of possible loss or injury the act of pulling and releasing a

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pull noun

the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

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rent noun

a payment or series of payments made by the lessee to an owner for use of some property, facility, equipment, or

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"Tear" in song lyrics

See how tear is used in real songs:

  • "Oh I just had to shed a tear"
    2 Live Crew — 2 Live Blues
  • "but a man will never shed a tear"
    51.50 — Games People Play
  • "On your face looks scared, your spacesuits got a tear"
    Aceyalone — A Book of Human Language

Words that rhyme with tear

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Usage tips for "tear"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "tear" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for tear to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with tear ↔ Synonyms for tear 🔬 Words containing tear

Frequently asked questions

What does tear mean?
a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands; "his story brought tears to her eyes" an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart; "there was a rip in his pants"; "she had snags in her stockings" an occasion for excessive eating or drinking; "they went on a bust that lasted three days" the act of tearing; "he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear" separate or cause to separate abruptly; "The rope snapped
What part of speech is tear?
Tear is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does tear have?
Tear has 9 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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