Pronunciation: /tɪr/

Definitions of tear

noun a drop of salty fluid secreted by glands in the eye to lubricate and clean the eye, typically when the eye is irritated

Example Sentences

A1 She had a tear in her dress.

A2 He wiped away a tear from his eye.

B1 The strong wind caused a tear in the sail.

B2 She couldn't hold back the tears as she watched the emotional movie.

C1 The tear in the fabric was expertly repaired by the tailor.

C2 The tear in the painting revealed a hidden signature underneath.

verb pull or rip (something) apart or to pieces with force

Example Sentences

A1 She tears the paper into small pieces.

A2 He tears up whenever he watches sad movies.

B1 The strong wind tore the roof off the house.

B2 The athlete tore a muscle during the race.

C1 The betrayal tore their friendship apart.

C2 The singer's emotional performance tore at the hearts of the audience.

Examples of tear in a Sentence

formal She wiped away a tear as she listened to the emotional speech.

informal I can't help but tear up every time I watch that movie.

slang I heard she got into a tear with her roommate over the dirty dishes.

figurative The decision to tear down the old building was met with mixed emotions from the community.

Grammatical Forms of tear

past tense

tore

plural

tears

comparative

more tearful

superlative

most tearful

present tense

tear

future tense

will tear

perfect tense

have torn

continuous tense

is tearing

singular

tear

positive degree

tear

infinitive

tear

gerund

tearing

participle

torn

Origin and Evolution of tear

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'tear' originated from the Old English word 'tear', which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'tahr', meaning a drop of liquid.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a drop of liquid, the word 'tear' has evolved to also represent the act of crying or shedding tears as an emotional response.