From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
tear
n 1: a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the
lacrimal glands; "his story brought tears to her eyes"
[syn: tear, teardrop]
2: an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart; "there was a
rip in his pants"; "she had snags in her stockings" [syn:
rip, rent, snag, split, tear]
3: an occasion for excessive eating or drinking; "they went on a
bust that lasted three days" [syn: bust, tear, binge,
bout]
4: the act of tearing; "he took the manuscript in both hands and
gave it a mighty tear"
v 1: separate or cause to separate abruptly; "The rope snapped";
"tear the paper" [syn: tear, rupture, snap, bust]
2: to separate or be separated by force; "planks were in danger
of being torn from the crossbars"
3: move quickly and violently; "The car tore down the street";
"He came charging into my office" [syn: tear, shoot,
shoot down, charge, buck]
4: strip of feathers; "pull a chicken"; "pluck the capon" [syn:
pluck, pull, tear, deplume, deplumate, displume]
5: fill with tears or shed tears; "Her eyes were tearing"