Tear - English meaning

noun

A bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.

Usage examples:

He reached through the hole in the door and slid the bolt on the inside.

verb

Fasten (a door or window) with a bar that slides into a socket.

Usage examples:

All the doors were locked and bolted

verb

(of a horse or other animal) run away suddenly, typically from fear.

Usage examples:

The horses shied and bolted

verb

Walk or run with leaping strides.

Usage examples:

Louis came bounding down the stairs

noun

A leaping movement towards or over something.

Usage examples:

I went up the steps in two effortless bounds

verb

Form the boundary of; enclose.

Usage examples:

The ground was bounded by a main road on one side and a meadow on the other

noun

An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.

Usage examples:

He seemed destined for a career as an engineer like his father

verb

Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.

Usage examples:

The coach careered across the road and went through a hedge

noun

A job for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your working life, so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money

Usage examples:

He’s hoping for a career in social work., she left college to pursue an acting career., the bus car…

verb

Demand (an amount) as a price for a service rendered or goods supplied.

Usage examples:

Wedding planners may charge an hourly fee of up to £150

noun

A price asked for goods or services.

Usage examples:

Our standard charge for a letter is £25

noun

An ambassador's deputy.

verb

Make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp-edged tool or object.

Usage examples:

He cut his toe on a sharp stone

noun

A stroke or blow given by a sharp-edged implement or by a whip or cane.

Usage examples:

He could skin an animal with a single cut of the knife

verb

Separate with or as if with an instrument

noun

A small pointed missile that can be thrown or fired.

Usage examples:

The classroom was littered with paper darts

verb

Move or run somewhere suddenly or rapidly.

Usage examples:

She darted across the street

verb

A sudden quick movement

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

verb

Be indecisive.

Usage examples:

I can't bear people who dither

noun

Indecisive behaviour.

Usage examples:

After months of dither ministers had still not agreed

noun

A state of agitation.

Usage examples:

all of a dither, he prophesied instant chaos

adjective

Split into parts; separated.

Usage examples:

The deputy came back, carrying a divided metal plate and a cup

verb

Separate or be separated into parts.

Usage examples:

Consumer magazines can be divided into a number of categories

adjective

Split into two or more opposing groups who cannot agree

Usage examples:

The party is deeply divided over fundamental issues, such as immigration and the budget deficit., m…

verb

Shine in a bright but brief, sudden, or intermittent way.

Usage examples:

Lightning flashed overhead

noun

A sudden brief burst of bright light.

Usage examples:

A flash of lightning

adjective

Ostentatiously stylish or expensive.

Usage examples:

A flash new car

verb

(of a bird, bat, or insect) move through the air using wings.

Usage examples:

Close the door or the moths will fly in

noun

An opening at the crotch of a pair of trousers, closed with a zip or buttons and typically covered with a flap.

Usage examples:

Interesting alternatives are velcro straps or, if the shorts fit perfectly, stylish button flies.

noun

A flying insect of a large order characterized by a single pair of transparent wings and sucking (and often also piercing) mouthparts. flies are of great importance as vectors of disease.

Usage examples:

Almost 40 years ago ed lewis discovered a remarkable fly that differs from an ordinary fly by one e…

noun

The fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride.

Usage examples:

The horse broke into a furious gallop

verb

(of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop.

Usage examples:

We galloped along the sand

verb

A fast gait of a horse

noun

A fast-running, long-eared mammal that resembles a large rabbit, having very long hind legs and typically found in grassland or open woodland.

Usage examples:

European game animals include various deer, wild boar, hare, and rabbit.

verb

Run with great speed.

Usage examples:

He hared off between the trees

noun

An implement consisting of a heavy frame set with teeth or tines which is dragged over ploughed land to break up clods, remove weeds, and cover seed.

Usage examples:

German farmers used spike-tooth harrows extensively to control weeds in small grains fields before …

verb

Draw a harrow over (land).

Usage examples:

They ploughed and harrowed the heavy clay

noun

A large piece of equipment that is pulled behind a tractor (= a farm vehicle) to break the earth into small pieces ready for planting

Usage examples:

Roughly ploughed and harrowed land, the ploughman harrows and sows, and then waits for the harvest.

verb

Be quick to do something.

Usage examples:

He hastened to refute the assertion

verb

To hurry, or to make something go or happen faster

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] they didn’t get what they were after – thanks to you, i hasten to add., [ t ] t…

noun

A hollow place in a solid body or surface.

Usage examples:

The dog had dug a hole in the ground

verb

Make a hole or holes in.

Usage examples:

A fuel tank was holed by the attack and a fire started

verb

Move or act with great haste.

Usage examples:

We'd better hurry

noun

Great haste.

Usage examples:

In my hurry to leave i knocked over a pile of books

verb

To move or act quickly, or to cause someone to move or act quickly

Usage examples:

[ i ] we have to hurry if we’re going to make it there in time., [ t ] i hurried the kids through t…

verb

Move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner.

Usage examples:

A runaway car hurtled towards them

verb

Move with or as if with a rushing sound

verb

To move very fast, esp. in what seems a dangerous way

Usage examples:

The truck hurtled along at breakneck speed.

To be unable to decide about something

Usage examples:

I was in two minds whether or not to come this morning.

adjective

Showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain.

Usage examples:

She stood irresolute outside his door

adjective

Not able or willing to take decisions or actions

Usage examples:

An irresolute reply

verb

Tear or make deep cuts in (flesh or skin).

Usage examples:

The point had lacerated his neck

verb

To cut or tear something, esp. flesh

Usage examples:

His face and hands were lacerated by the flying glass., [ c ] justina was treated for a scalp lacer…

noun

A piece of equipment consisting of a series of bars or steps between two upright lengths of wood, metal, or rope, used for climbing up or down something.

Usage examples:

You run around climbing ladders, shimmying across ropes and running from one platform to another, c…

verb

(with reference to tights or stockings) develop or cause to develop a ladder.

Usage examples:

I laddered my tights as i arrived this morning

noun

A piece of equipment used for climbing up and down, and consisting of two vertical bars joined by a set of horizontal steps

Usage examples:

Fig. in only a few years she managed to climb up the corporate ladder (= achieve success in the bus…

noun

A unit of weight equal to 16 oz. avoirdupois (0.4536 kg), or 12 oz. troy (0.3732 kg).

Usage examples:

A short ton is the standard u.s. ton of 2,000 pounds and measures weight.

verb

Strike or hit heavily and repeatedly.

Usage examples:

Patrick pounded the couch with his fists

verb

Shut (an animal) in a pound.

noun

A competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course.

Usage examples:

Hill started from pole position and won the race

verb

Compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective.

Usage examples:

The vet took blood samples from the horses before they raced

noun

Each of the major groupings into which humankind is considered (in various theories or contexts) to be divided on the basis of physical characteristics or shared ancestry.

Usage examples:

People of all races, colours, and creeds

noun

A framework, typically with rails, bars, hooks, or pegs, for holding or storing things.

Usage examples:

A spice rack

verb

Cause extreme pain, anguish, or distress to.

Usage examples:

He was racked with guilt

verb

(of a horse) move with a rack gait.

verb

Tear (something) into pieces.

Usage examples:

Snapping teeth that would rend human flesh to shreds

verb

To break something violently; tear

verb

To tear or break something violently

Usage examples:

With one stroke of his sword, he rent his enemy's helmet in two., [ + adj ] firemen had to rend him…

noun

A tenant's regular payment to a landlord for the use of property or land.

Usage examples:

I cannot even afford to pay the rent on this flat

verb

Pay someone for the use of (something, typically property, land, or a car).

Usage examples:

They rented a house together in sussex

noun

A large tear in a piece of fabric.

Usage examples:

Eddie was dismayed by the rent in the roof of the tent

verb

Tear or pull (something) quickly or forcibly away from something or someone.

Usage examples:

A fan tried to rip his trousers off during a show

noun

A long tear or cut.

Usage examples:

There was a rip in his sweatshirt

noun

A stretch of fast-flowing and rough water in the sea or in a river, caused by the meeting of currents.

Usage examples:

The onslaught of the trojan army is ‘charging in as a heavy surf roars in against the rip at a rive…

verb

Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.

Usage examples:

The dog ran across the road

noun

An act or spell of running.

Usage examples:

I usually go for a run in the morning

verb

Move fast by using one's feet

verb

Move with urgent haste.

Usage examples:

Oliver rushed after her

noun

A sudden quick movement towards something, typically by a number of people.

Usage examples:

There was a rush for the door

noun

An erect, tufted marsh or waterside plant resembling a sedge or grass, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers. widely distributed in temperate areas, some kinds are used for matting, chair seats, and baskets.

Usage examples:

Then the land went down, and there was marsh of rushes and willow and hazel.

verb

(especially of a small animal or child) run with quick light steps, especially through fear or excitement.

Usage examples:

He scampered in like an overgrown puppy

noun

An act of scampering.

Usage examples:

He heard the squeak and scamper of rats

verb

Run or move about quickly or lightly

verb

(of a person or small animal) move hurriedly with short quick steps.

Usage examples:

Pedestrians scurried for cover

noun

A situation of hurried and confused movement.

Usage examples:

I was in such a scurry

noun

A metal container with a handle, used to fetch and store coal for a domestic fire.

Usage examples:

Carrying endless scuttles of coal up from the cellar

verb

Run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps.

Usage examples:

A mouse scuttled across the floor

noun

An act or sound of scuttling.

Usage examples:

I heard the scuttle of rats across the room

verb

Kill or wound (a person or animal) with a bullet or arrow.

Usage examples:

He was shot in the leg during an armed robbery

noun

A young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant.

Usage examples:

He nipped off the new shoots that grew where the leaves joined the stems

exclamation

Variant spelling of chute1.

noun

A strip of material, such as paper, cloth, or food, that has been torn, cut, or scraped from something larger.

Usage examples:

Her dress was torn to shreds

verb

Tear or cut into shreds.

Usage examples:

The tender inside leaves can be shredded finely for tasty salads and braised red cabbage is fantast…

verb

To cut or tear something into small pieces

Usage examples:

Shred some lettuce into the salad bowl., he shredded documents to get rid of them., there isn’t a s…

verb

Cut with a wide, sweeping movement, typically using a knife or sword.

Usage examples:

For what felt like hours we climbed behind the trackers slashing the undergrowth ahead

noun

A wide, sweeping stroke made with a knife or sword.

Usage examples:

The man took a mighty slash at his head with a large sword

conjunction

An oblique stroke (/) in print or writing, used between alternatives (e.g. and/or ), in fractions (e.g. 3/4 ), in ratios (e.g. miles/day ), or between separate elements of a text.

Usage examples:

Sentence breaks are highlighted by slashes

noun

A long, narrow cut or opening.

Usage examples:

Make a slit in the stem under a bud

verb

Make a long, narrow cut in.

Usage examples:

Give me the truth or i will slit your throat

noun

An unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawback.

Usage examples:

There's one small snag

verb

Catch or tear (something) on a sharp projection.

Usage examples:

Thorns snagged his sweater

noun

A sausage.

Usage examples:

I make my own snags, my own pies and pasties

noun

The rate at which someone or something moves or operates or is able to move or operate.

Usage examples:

We turned on to the runway and began to gather speed

verb

Move quickly.

Usage examples:

I got into the car and home we sped

noun

(a) rate at which something moves or happens

Usage examples:

[ c ] a speed of 25 miles per hour, [ u ] both cars were traveling at high speed., [ u ] they came …

verb

Break or cause to break forcibly into parts, especially into halves or along the grain.

Usage examples:

The ice cracked and split

noun

A tear, crack, or fissure in something, especially down the middle or along the grain.

Usage examples:

Splits appeared in the decaying planks

proper noun

A seaport on the coast of southern croatia; population 177,500 (est. 2009). founded as a roman colony in 78 bc, it contains the ruins of the palace of the emperor diocletian, built in about ad 300.

verb

Run at full speed over a short distance.

Usage examples:

I saw charlie sprinting through the traffic towards me

noun

An act or short spell of running at full speed.

Usage examples:

Greg broke into a sprint

verb

Run very fast, usually for a short distance

noun

A long, thin line or mark of a different substance or colour from its surroundings.

Usage examples:

A streak of oil

verb

Cover (a surface) with streaks.

Usage examples:

Tears streaking her face, cynthia looked up

noun

A mark of a color that is different from what surrounds it, or a thin strip of light

Usage examples:

Streaks of gray and black colored the marble., the comet appeared as a dazzling streak in the sky.,…

verb

Clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter.

Usage examples:

I've swept the floor

noun

An act of sweeping something with a brush.

Usage examples:

I was giving the floor a quick sweep

noun

A single tear.

Usage examples:

Excess tears are shed as teardrops or escape into the nasal passages.

noun

Severe physical or mental suffering.

Usage examples:

Their deaths have left both families in torment

verb

Cause to experience severe mental or physical suffering.

Usage examples:

He was tormented by jealousy

noun

Great mental or physical suffering, or something that causes such pain

Usage examples:

[ u ] after three days of torment, she went to a dentist., [ c ] that child acts like it’s a tormen…

noun

The action or practice of inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something.

Usage examples:

The torture of political prisoners

verb

Inflict severe pain or suffering on.

Usage examples:

Most of the victims had been brutally tortured

noun

An injury or severe mental pain

Usage examples:

[ c ] all drivers suffer the tortures of traffic and bad weather., [ u ] the museum has many exampl…

adjective

Not able to be relied on; not known or definite.

Usage examples:

An uncertain future

adjective

Unclear, or not sure

Usage examples:

She faces an uncertain future., we’re uncertain of the cause of death., [ u ] they live in uncertai…

adjective

(of a person) not having made a decision.

Usage examples:

The jury remained undecided

noun

A person who has not decided how they are going to vote in an election.

Usage examples:

20 per cent of the population describe themselves as undecideds

adjective

Not having made a decision or judgment about something

Usage examples:

Are you still undecided about that job in san francisco?

adjective

Not feeling, showing, or done with confidence and certainty.

Usage examples:

I stand quietly under that glare, unsure of how to reply to such a statement

adjective

In doubt, or not certain

Usage examples:

[ + question word ] officials were unsure who was in control of the city., he has been unsure of hi…

adjective

Wavering between different opinions or actions; irresolute.

Usage examples:

He was accused of vacillating leadership

verb

Waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

Usage examples:

I vacillated between teaching and journalism

adjective

Moving in a quivering way; flickering.

Usage examples:

A wavering flame

verb

Move in a quivering way; flicker.

Usage examples:

The flame wavered in the draught

adjective

Losing strength, determination, or purpose, especially temporarily

Usage examples:

He spoke in a wavering voice, as if he were not sure of his ground., his wavering resolve was stren…

verb

Move quickly through the air with a whistling or buzzing sound.

Usage examples:

The missiles whizzed past

noun

A whistling or buzzing sound made by something moving fast through the air.

Usage examples:

I can add whizzes, bangs and sparkles really easily.

noun

Someone who is very good and successful at something

Usage examples:

A whizz at/on/with sth you don't have to be a whizz at computers in this job., a computer/financial…

verb

Squeeze and twist (something) to force liquid from it.

Usage examples:

She wrung the cloth out in the sink

noun

An act of squeezing or twisting something.

Usage examples:

I rinse my brush in hot water, warm water and then give it a slight "wring".

verb

To twist something by holding it tightly and turning your hands in opposite directions

Usage examples:

[ m ] she wrung out the shirt and hung it up to dry.

verb

Move or travel very quickly.

Usage examples:

He jumped into his car and zoomed off

noun

A camera shot that changes smoothly from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa.

Usage examples:

As a result, instead of the clean visuals that typify the science fiction genre, we see lens flares…

exclamation

Used to express sudden fast movement.

Usage examples:

Then suddenly, zoom!, he's off