Tears are the small drops of water that come from your eyes when you feel very sad, happy, or in pain. Every person cries tears at some point in their life. They are a natural response to strong feelings.
She wiped the tears from her face.
Tears fell down his cheeks when he cried.
When you tear something, you pull it apart with force and it breaks or splits. You can tear paper, fabric, or other thin materials. The action usually leaves rough, uneven edges.
She tears the paper into small pieces.
He tears his shirt when he falls.
A tear is a damaged area in a piece of cloth or other material where it has been pulled apart or worn through. You can often repair a tear by sewing it back together. Tears in clothing are common after heavy use or accidents.
There is a tear in my new jacket.
She sewed up the tear in her dress.
When someone tears somewhere, they move very fast and with a lot of energy, often because they are in a hurry. This meaning is informal and mostly used in spoken English. It gives the idea of wild, fast, or careless movement.
The children tear around the playground all day.
He tears down the street to catch the bus.
In a figurative sense, tears represent deep emotional pain, sadness, or grief rather than just the physical liquid from the eyes. Phrases like 'in tears' or 'burst into tears' describe a state of strong emotional upset. This use is very common in both spoken and written English.
The sad movie ended in tears for everyone.
She burst into tears when she heard the news.
In medical language, a tear refers to a physical injury where body tissue is ripped or pulled apart, most often in muscles, tendons, or ligaments. This type of injury often happens during sports or physical activity. Treatment usually involves rest, physiotherapy, or sometimes surgery.
The doctor found a tear in his knee ligament.
A muscle tear can take weeks to heal.
When something tears a person or group apart emotionally, it causes great pain, conflict, or division. This is a figurative use of the verb tear and is very common in emotional or dramatic contexts. It shows how strong feelings or events can break relationships or cause deep suffering.
The argument tore the family apart.
His death tears her heart every day.
In the printing and packaging industry, a tear refers to a specially designed line or strip on paper or packaging that allows it to be separated neatly. These are found on tickets, coupons, stamps, and food packaging. The design makes it easy for consumers to open or detach items without scissors.
Fold along the tear line to remove the coupon.
The ticket has a tear strip at the bottom.
