American English
/tʰiɹ/
One syllable.
To pull something so hard that it separates or gets a hole in it.
“Tear” is /tʰɛɹ/ when it means to rip something or a hole or split in material. It is /tʰiɹ/ when it means a drop from the eye.
To pull something so hard that it separates or gets a hole in it.
Be careful not to tear the paper.
She tore the letter apart.
tear a page · tear a shirt · tear a muscle · tear something into pieces
tear + something
tear + something + apart
A drop of liquid that comes from your eye when you cry or when your eye is irritated.
A tear rolled down his cheek.
She had tears in her eyes during the speech.
shed a tear · burst into tears · tears of joy · hold back tears
a tear rolls down + someone's cheek
someone has tears in + their eyes
A hole or split in cloth, paper, or another thin material, caused by pulling or damage.
There is a tear in my jacket.
The tailor repaired the tear in her jeans.
a tear in your jeans · a tear in the fabric · a small tear · a large tear
a tear in + something
something has a tear in + it
To start crying or get tears in your eyes.
I teared up at the end of the movie.
Crying because of strong emotion, sadness, or pain.
He was in tears after the argument.
To destroy something by pulling it into pieces.
The dog tore the toy apart.
To mean “rip,” use tore and torn: I tore it; I have torn it. But tear up meaning “start crying” usually has teared up: I teared up.