Tear

GRE 蓝宝考研

[编辑] 解释

I. noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English t?hher, tēar; akin to Old High German zahar tear, Greek dakry
Date: before 12th century
1.
- a. a drop of clear saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland and diffused between the eye and eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion
- b. plural a secretion of profuse tears that overflow the eyelids and dampen the face
2. a transparent drop of fluid or hardened fluid matter (as resin)
3. plural an act of weeping or grieving <broke into tears>
? tearless adjective

II. intransitive verb

Date: before 12th century
to fill with tears ; shed tears <eyes tearing in the November wind — Saul Bellow>

III. verb (tore; torn; tearing)

Etymology: Middle English teren, from Old English teran; akin to Old High German zeran to destroy, Greek derein to skin, Sanskrit d??āti he bursts, tears
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
- 1.
  - a. to separate parts of or pull apart by force ; rend
  - b. to wound by or as if by tearing ; lacerate <tear the skin>
- 2. to divide or disrupt by the pull of contrary forces <a mind torn with doubts>
- 3.
  - a. to remove by force ; wrench — often used with off<tear a cover off a box>
  - b. to remove as if by wrenching <tear your thoughts away from the scene>
- 4. to make or effect by or as if by tearing <tear a hole in the wall>
intransitive verb
- 1. to separate on being pulled ; rend <this cloth tears easily>
- 2.
  - a. to move or act with violence, haste, or force <went tearing down the street>
  - b. to smash or penetrate something with violent force <the bullet tore through his leg>
? tearable adjective
? tearer noun
Synonyms:
- tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges <tear up the letter>. rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted