Added 9 October 2026
tear
/tɛə/ verb
In Latin: lanio Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tear at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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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.
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To injure as if by pulling apart.
He tore some muscles in a weight-lifting accident.
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To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.
He was torn by conflicting emotions.
noun
noun
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A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.
Big tears streamed from Lisa's eyes, rolling down her cheeks.
- Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.
- A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.
verb
Origin
From Middle English teren, from Old English teran (“to tear, lacerate”), from Proto-Germanic *teraną (“to tear, tear apart, rip”), from Proto-Indo-European *der- (“to tear, tear apart”). Cognate with Scots tere, teir, tair (“to rend, lacerate, wound, rip, tear out”), Dutch teren (“to eliminate, efface, live, survive by consumption”), German zehren (“to consume, misuse”), German zerren (“to tug, rip, tear”), Danish tære (“to consume”), Swedish tära (“to fret, consume, deplete, use up”), Icelandic tæra (“to clear, corrode”). Outside Germanic, cognate to Ancient Greek δέρω (dérō, “to skin”), Albanian ther (“to slay, skin, pierce”). Doublet of tire.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)