1
[ verb ] separate or cause to separate abruptly

Synonyms

snap rupture bust

Examples

"The rope snapped" "tear the paper"

Used in print

(Jim Berry Pearson, The Maxwell Land Grant....)

A bullet fired by one of the Mexicans hiding in a little chicken house had passed_through his head , tearing a hole two inches square on the outgoing side .

Finding it true that he was not inside , the deputies returned to the first house and tore holes through the side and the roof until they could see a body on the bed covered by a blanket .

(Clayton C. Barbeau, The Ikon....)

Clumps of brush that they passed were so many enchained demons straining in anger to tear and gnaw on his bones .

(David Stacton, The Judges of the Secret Court....)

The figure leapt from the box , almost lost its balance , the flag draped there tore in the air , the figure landed on its left leg , fell on its hands , and pressed itself up .

(Guy Bolton, The Olympians....)

There have been cooing doves , chattering magpies , thieving jackdaws , a proud peacock , a silly goose , and a harpy_eagle - whom I was silly enough to mate with and who is now busy tearing at my vitals '' .

2
[ verb ] to separate or be separated by force

Examples

: "planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars."

Used in print

(The Philadelphia Inquirer,...)

The fire_department here has been torn for months by dissension involving top personnel and the fight between the fire_fighters association and the teamsters union .

(Cliff Farrell, Trail of the Tattered Star....)

A bullet tore the earth from beneath his foot when he was a stride or two from safety .

The iron hinges held , but the planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars .

Related terms

separate cleave

3
[ noun ] a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands

Synonyms

teardrop

Examples

"his story brought tears to her eyes"

Used in print

(Kenneth Allsop, The Bootleggers and Their Era...)

He was also at_the_same_time gaining practical experience as a safe_breaker and highwayman , and learning how to shoot to kill from a Neanderthal convicted murderer named Gene_Geary , later committed to Chester_Asylum as a homicidal maniac , but whose eyes misted with tears when the young Dion sang a ballad about an Irish mother in his clear and syrupy tenor .

(Dolores Hitchens, Footsteps in the Night....)

When he turned into the highway that led to the outskirts of the city and then rose toward home , he had to pull over to the curb and wait for a_few minutes , sucking_in air and squinting and blinking his eyes to clear them of tears .

(Vina Delmar, The Big Family....)

God_knew his tears were his to shed if he so desired , for it had not been with an egotist 's rage for fame that he had held precious his naval career .

And after a while , he dried his tears and walked the deck as a captain should with assurance and dignity .

Related terms

drop lacrimal_secretion water

4
[ verb ] move quickly and violently

Examples

"The car tore down the street" "He came charging into my office"

Used in print

(Howard Fast, April Morning....)

The gunfire , which was so near that it seemed just a piece up the road now , stopped for long enough to count to twenty ; and in that brief interval , a redcoat officer came tearing down the road , whipping his horse fit to kill .

(Glayds H. Barr, The Master of Geneva....)

Loneliness tore through him like a physical pain whenever he thought_of Peter_Robert , Nerien , Nicholas_Cop , Martin_Bucer , and even the compromising Louis_du_Tillet .

Related terms

rush rip shoot_up dart

5
[ noun ] an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart

Synonyms

rent snag split rip

Examples

"there was a rip in his pants" "she had snags in her stockings"

Related terms

opening rend

6
[ verb ] strip of feathers

Examples

"pull a chicken" "pluck the capon"

Used in print

(Peter Field, Rattlesnake Ridge....)

You were right '' , Russ exclaimed , tearing the loose bills out of Carmer 's hat .

Related terms

strip

7
[ verb ] fill with tears or shed tears

Examples

"Her eyes were tearing"

Related terms

cry

8
[ noun ] an occasion for excessive eating or drinking

Examples

"they went on a bust that lasted three days"

Related terms

revel piss-up gorge

9
[ verb ] move precipitously or violently

Synonyms

rip

Examples

"The tornado ripped along the coast"

Related terms

travel

10
[ noun ] the act of tearing

Examples

"he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear"

Related terms

separation rent laceration

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