Tear

Definition of Tear

Pronunciation: tēr

(Physiol.) A drop of the limpid, saline fluid secreted, normally in small amount, by the lachrymal gland, and diffused between the eye and the eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion. Ordinarily the secretion passes through the lachrymal duct into the nose, but when it is increased by emotion or other causes, it overflows the lids.

And yet for thee ne wept she never a tear.

- Chaucer.

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

Let Araby extol her happy coast,
Her fragrant flowers, her trees with precious tears.

- Dryden.

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

(Glass Manuf.) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

Tears of St. Lawrence
the Perseid shower of meteors, seen every year on or about the eve of St. Lawrence, August 9th.

Tears of wine
drops which form and roll down a glass above the surface of strong wine. The phenomenon is due to the evaporation of alcohol from the surface layer, which, becoming more watery, increases in surface tension and creeps up the sides until its weight causes it to break.

v. t.

To separate by violence; to pull apart by force; to rend; to lacerate; as, to tear cloth; to tear a garment; to tear the skin or flesh.

[imp. Tore (tōr), ((Obs. Tare) (târ); p. p. Torn (tōrn); p. pr. & vb. n. Tearing.]

Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.

- Shak.

Hence, to divide by violent measures; to disrupt; to rend; as, a party or government torn by factions.

To rend away; to force away; to remove by force; to sunder; as, a child torn from its home.

The hand of fate
Hath torn thee from me.

- Addison.

To pull with violence; as, to tear the hair.

To move violently; to agitate.

To tear a cat
to rant violently; to rave; - especially applied to theatrical ranting.

To tear down
to demolish violently; to pull or pluck down. - Shak.

To tear off
to pull off by violence; to strip.

To tear out
to pull or draw out by violence; as, to tear out the eyes.

To tear up
to rip up; to remove from a fixed state by violence; as, to tear up a floor; to tear up the foundation of government or order.

v. i.

To divide or separate on being pulled; to be rent; as, this cloth tears easily.

To move and act with turbulent violence; to rush with violence; hence, to rage; to rave.

The act of tearing, or the state of being torn; a rent; a fissure.

Wear and tear
See under Wear, n.

Related Words

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