tear

Everyday

1. A tear (rhymes with «ear») is a drop of salty water that comes from your eye, when you cry, laugh a lot or get something in your eye. tree →
2. To tear (rhymes with «air») something is to pull it apart or make a hole in it, like paper or cloth. tree →
3. A tear (rhymes with «air») is a hole or split made by tearing. tree →
4. To tear somewhere (rhymes with «air») is to move very fast. tree →

In the lessons

In science, tears clean and protect the eyes and wash out dust; onions make you cry because of a gas they give off. In feelings lessons, crying is a normal way of showing sadness, pain, relief or even joy. In crafts, you tear paper for collage. Phrases: «in tears», «burst into tears», «tears of joy», «tear up», «tear down», «wear and tear», «tear off», «tear along».

Examples

• A tear rolled down her cheek. tree →
• He burst into tears when his goldfish died. tree →
• Chopping onions brings tears to my eyes. tree →
• Don't tear the pages of the book. tree →
• There's a tear in my jeans. tree →
• Tear the paper into strips for the collage. tree →
• The dog tore down the street after the cat. tree →
• They cried tears of joy at the wedding. tree →
• Anastasia trembled, and burst into tears. tree →

Note

A heteronym: same spelling, two sounds and meanings. «Tear» (eye) rhymes with «ear»; «tear» (rip) rhymes with «air». The verb is irregular: tear, tore, torn («I tore it», «It is torn»). Homophone of tear (rip): tare; of tear (eye): tier.

In Jewish tradition

Here it is mostly the drop of water from the eye, a sign of sorrow, prayer or sometimes joy. The verb means to rip, as in anger or grief, or as a wild beast does.

Interpretation. Tears show deep feeling before God. The rabbis said that tears of prayer are heard, and that the gates of tears are never shut. Tearing clothes is the Jewish sign of grief.

Examples

• They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. (Writings PSA.126.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God; (Writings JOB.16.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, shall the earth be forsaken for thee? (Writings JOB.18.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A heteronym: same spelling, two sounds and meanings. «Tear» (eye) rhymes with «ear»; «tear» (rip) rhymes with «air». The verb is irregular: tear, tore, torn («I tore it», «It is torn»). Homophone of tear (rip): tare; of tear (eye): tier.