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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | teran |
Related topics:
1
paper/cloth
a) [transitive] to damage something such as paper or cloth by pulling it hard or letting it touch something sharp [= rip]: 
Be careful not to tear the paper.His clothes were old and torn.
Be careful not to tear the paper.His clothes were old and torn.b) [intransitive] if paper or cloth tears, it splits and a hole appears, because it has been pulled too hard or has touched something sharp : The paper is old and tears easily.
The paper is old and tears easily.2 to run or drive somewhere very quickly, especially in a dangerous or careless way : She tore back into the house. We tore down to the hospital. He tore off into town.
move quickly
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]She tore back into the house.We tore down to the hospital.He tore off into town.3 to pull something violently from a person or place
remove something
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] tear something from somebody/something He tore the letter from my hand. A bridge was torn from the bank by the floodwaters.
He tore the letter from my hand.A bridge was torn from the bank by the floodwaters.4
be torn
a) if you are torn, you are unable to decide what to do because you have different feelings or different things that you want He was torn two ways. Jess was torn by anger and worry.
He was torn two ways.Jess was torn by anger and worry.b) if a country or group is torn, it is divided because people in it have very different ideas and are arguing or fighting with each other : The country was torn by civil war.
The country was torn by civil war.5 to damage a muscle or ligament : She had torn a muscle in her leg.
muscle
[transitive]MIShe had torn a muscle in her leg.7 to criticize someone or something very severely : He tore her arguments to shreds.
tear somebody/something to shreds/pieces
informalHe tore her arguments to shreds.8 to talk to someone very angrily because they have done something wrong
tear somebody off a strip/tear a strip off somebody
British English informal10 to feel anxious and upset because you are worried, or because you have to deal with something that is very difficult : I've been tearing my hair out trying to get done in time.
be tearing your hair out
British English informalI've been tearing my hair out trying to get done in time.12 to make someone feel extremely upset : The thought of her out there alone tore at my heart.
tear somebody's heart (out)/tear at somebody's heart
The thought of her out there alone tore at my heart.13 used when something bad has happened that stops you from doing what you intended to do : Oh, no, that's torn it! I've left my keys in the car!
that's torn it!
British English spoken old-fashionedOh, no, that's torn it! I've left my keys in the car!tear somebody/something apart
phrasal verb1 to cause serious arguments in a group of people [= rip apart]: Scandal is tearing the government apart. a row that tore the family apart
tear something ↔ apart
Scandal is tearing the government apart.a row that tore the family apart2 literary to separate people who are in a close relationship with each other : Nothing can tear us apart!
Nothing can tear us apart!3 to make someone feel extremely unhappy or upset : Seeing her so upset really tore him apart.
Seeing her so upset really tore him apart.4 to break something violently into a lot of small pieces [= rip apart]: Her body had been torn apart by wolves.
tear something ↔ apart
Her body had been torn apart by wolves.tear at somebody/something
phrasal verbThe children were screaming and tearing at each other's hair.tear somebody away
phrasal verbHe was enjoying the fun and couldn't tear himself away.tear something ↔ down
phrasal verbA lot of the old tower blocks have been torn down to make way for new housing.tear into somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to attack someone by hitting them very hard : The two boys tore into each other.
The two boys tore into each other.2 to criticize someone very strongly and angrily : From time to time she would really tear into her staff.
From time to time she would really tear into her staff.3 to start doing something quickly, with a lot of energy : I was amazed at the way she tore into her work.
I was amazed at the way she tore into her work.tear something ↔ off
phrasal verbHe tore off his clothes and dived into the water.tear something ↔ up
phrasal verb1 to tear a piece of paper or cloth into small pieces [= rip up]: She tore up his letter and threw it away.
She tore up his letter and threw it away.2 to remove something from the ground by pulling or pushing it violently : the remains of trees that had been torn up by the storm
the remains of trees that had been torn up by the storm3 to say that you no longer accept an agreement or contract : threats to tear up the peace agreement
tear up an agreement/a contract etc
threats to tear up the peace agreementWORD FOCUS: break 
WORD FOCUS: break
smash with a lot of force
shatter into many pieces
split into two pieces
snap into two pieces, with a sudden loud noise
tear paper/cloth
burst pipe/tyre/balloon
crumble break into a lot of small pieces
disintegrate break into a lot of small pieces and be destroyed
fracture if a bone fractures or you fracture it, it breaks slightly so that a small line appears on the surface
➔ See also breakWORD FOCUS: runWORD FOCUS: run
for exercise: jog
very quickly because you are in a hurry: dash, tear, sprint
➔ See also run
WORD FOCUS: break smash with a lot of force
shatter into many pieces
split into two pieces
snap into two pieces, with a sudden loud noise
tear paper/cloth
burst pipe/tyre/balloon
crumble break into a lot of small pieces
disintegrate break into a lot of small pieces and be destroyed
fracture if a bone fractures or you fracture it, it breaks slightly so that a small line appears on the surface
➔ See also breakWORD FOCUS: run
WORD FOCUS: run for exercise: jog
very quickly because you are in a hurry: dash, tear, sprint
➔ See also run
