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.

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

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