tearer

Variant of tear

tear definition

tear (ter)

transitive verb tore, torn, tearing tear′·ing

  1. to pull apart or separate into pieces by force; rip or rend (cloth, paper, etc.)
  2. to make or cause by tearing or puncturing to tear a hole in a dress
  3. to wound by tearing; lacerate skin torn and bruised
  4. to force apart or divide into factions; disrupt; split ranks torn by dissension
  5. to divide with doubt, uncertainty, etc.; agitate; torment a mind torn between duty and desire
  6. to remove by or as by tearing, pulling, etc.: with up, out, away, off, etc. to tear a plant up by its roots, to tear oneself away

Etymology: ME teren < OE teran, to rend, akin to Ger zehren, to destroy, consume < IE base *der-, to skin, split > drab, derma

intransitive verb

  1. to be torn
  2. to move violently or with speed; dash

noun

  1. the act of tearing
  2. the result of a tearing; torn place; rent
  3. a rushing pace; great hurry
  4. wear and tear
  5. ☆ Slang a carousal; spree

Related Forms:

tear Idioms

tear at

to make violent, pulling motions at in an attempt to tear or remove

tear down

  1. to wreck or demolish (a building, etc.)
  2. to dismantle or take apart to tear down an engine
  3. to cause to disintegrate
  4. to controvert or disprove (an argument, etc.) point by point

tear into

Informal to attack impetuously and, often, devastatingly

tear it

Slang to be that which brings about final failure, defeat, frustration, loss of patience, etc. that tears it!

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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