Tears are the liquid drops your eyes produce when you cry. They also help keep your eyes clean and moist. People cry tears when they are sad, happy, or in pain.
A tear ran down her cheek slowly.
He wiped the tears from his eyes.
A tear as a noun means a hole or damage in a piece of cloth or paper. It happens when the material is pulled too hard or caught on something sharp. You might see a tear in jeans, a bag, or a piece of paper.
There is a big tear in my shirt.
She saw a tear in her new dress.
When someone tears through or across a place, they move extremely fast and with a lot of energy. This is often used to describe someone running or moving in a wild or excited way. It suggests speed and lack of care for what is around them.
The children tore through the park loudly.
He tore down the street on his bike.
When something tears you apart or you feel torn, it means you are experiencing very strong emotional pain or conflict. For example, you might be torn between two decisions you cannot easily choose between. This is a figurative use, meaning it describes feelings, not physical things.
The bad news tore him apart inside.
She was torn between two important choices.
In this meaning, tear describes the action of forcefully removing something from where it is attached or held. It suggests a sudden and powerful pulling motion. You might use this word when something is yanked away by a person, the wind, or another force.
The wind tore the sign from the wall.
He tore the book from her hands suddenly.
In medical and sports contexts, a tear refers to damage inside the body where a muscle or ligament is partially or completely separated. This type of injury is common in athletes and causes pain and limited movement. A doctor or physiotherapist is usually needed to treat it.
The player has a tear in his knee.
She has a muscle tear from playing sports.
When someone tears apart an idea, work, or argument, they criticize it very strongly and find many faults with it. This is a figurative expression often used in debates, reviews, or discussions. It means the criticism is thorough and leaves little positive behind.
The critics tore apart his new book.
She tore his argument to pieces calmly.
