tear

verb

/ˈteɚ/ tears; tore /ˈtoɚ/; torn /ˈtoɚn/; tearing

always followed by an adverb or preposition :to separate (something) into parts by pulling it, cutting it, etc. :to rip, split, or open (something) quickly or violently [+ obj]

He tore the letter in half.

They began tearing their presents open.

He tore apart the two tickets and handed one to me.

The dog tore the pillow to pieces/shreds. [no obj]

Tear along the dotted line.

to make (a hole or opening) in a piece of clothing, a piece of paper, etc., usually by cutting it on something sharp [+ obj]

She tore a hole in her sock when she jumped over the fence. [no obj]

His coat got caught on a nail and tore.

His pants tore at the seam.

[+ obj] :to make (a hole, a path) in a violent or forceful way

The explosion tore a hole in the side of the building. - sometimes used figuratively

The new evidence could tear a hole in their theory. [=it could show that their theory is not correct]

[+ obj] :to cut or injure (skin, a muscle, etc.)

He tore a ligament in his left knee during football practice.

a torn leg muscle

When she fell, she tore the skin on her elbow.

always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] :to remove (something) quickly or violently

The curtains had been torn from the windows.

She tore the book out of my hands.

They decided to tear out the kitchen's old cabinets.

He tore the page out of the magazine.

I wanted to tear her head off!

He tore off a piece of bread and ate it.

She tore a corner off of a sheet of paper and wrote her number on it.

Open up or we'll tear down this door!

The police officer grabbed him, but he managed to tear himself loose/free. [=to pull himself away from the police officer]

always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] :to go or move very quickly

The kids tore into the house and up the stairs.

We watched the cars tear around the track.

He went tearing down the street on his bicycle.

The fire tore through the forest.

An epidemic was tearing through the region.

The bullet tore through his leg.

[+ obj] :to damage or harm (something, such as a country) very badly - usually used as (be) torn

The region has been torn [=ravaged] by disease and hunger for the last 50 years.

a country torn by violence

a war-torn country

[+ obj] :to cause (someone) to feel confused, upset, etc., especially about making a choice or decision - often + apart or up

I can't decide, and it's tearing me apart!

It's tearing me up (inside).

usually used as (be) torn

I've been trying to decide, but I'm still torn. [=I'm still unable to decide]

She was torn by conflicting loyalties. - often + between

He is torn between his career and his responsibilities as a father.

a person torn between two lovers - compare 4tear

tear apart

[phrasal verb]

tear (something) apart or tear apart (something) :to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces

I couldn't open the box nicely, so I just tore it apart. - often used figuratively

The robbers tore apart the house [=they made a mess in the house] looking for the money.

We tore the other team apart [=we easily beat the other team] in yesterday's game.

Civil war threatened to tear apart the country.

We can't agree, and it's tearing our family apart.

tear (someone or something) apart or tear apart (someone or something) :to criticize (someone or something) in a very harsh or angry way especially by describing weaknesses, flaws, etc.

The article tears apart the government's handling of the situation.