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   tear

   /tɛː/

   verb

   • 1. pull (something) apart or to pieces with force: "I tore up the letter" Similar rip uprip in twopull apartpull to piecesshred
   • ▪ remove by pulling forcefully: "he tore up the floorboards" Similar snatchgrabseizeripwrenchwrestpullpluckinformal:yank
   • ▪ make a hole or split in (something) by pulling it or piercing it with a sharp implement: "she was always tearing her clothes" Similar ripsnagladderlaceratecut (open)cut to piecescut to ribbonsgashslashscratchclawmanglemutilatehackpiercestabinjurewound
   • ▪ make (a hole or split) in something by force: "the blast tore a hole in the wall"
   • ▪ come apart; rip: "the material wouldn't tear"
   • ▪ damage (a muscle or ligament) by overstretching it: "he tore a ligament playing squash"
   • 2. move very quickly in a reckless or excited manner: informal "she tore along the footpath on her bike" Similar sprintracerundartrushdashhastenhurryscurryscuttlescamperhareboltboundflygallopcareerchargepoundshoothurtlespeedstreakflashwhizzzoomsweepgo like lightninggo hell for leathergo like the windinformal:peltscoothotfoot itbeltzipwhipgo like a bat out of hellstep on itget a move onget crackingput on some speedstir one's stumpsgo like the clappersbombbucketleg itwheechboogiehightail itbarrelget the lead outinformal, dated:cut alongarchaic:posthieOpposite strollamble
   • 3. be in a state of uncertainty between two conflicting options or parties: "he was torn between his duty and his better instincts" Similar tormenttorturerackharrowwringlacerateliterary:rend

   noun

   • 1. a hole or split in something caused by it having been pulled apart forcefully: "there was a tear in her dress"
   • 2. a brief spell of erratic or unrestrained behaviour; a binge or spree: informal US "one of my drinking buddies came for the weekend and we went on a tear"
   • ▪ a spell of great success or excellence in performance: "he went on a tear, winning three out of every four hands"

   Word Origin Old Englishteran, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch teren and German zehren, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek derein ‘flay’. The noun dates from the early 17th century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. tearable adjective
   • 2. tearer noun

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

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