| English Dictionary |
TEAR OFF
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does tear off mean?
• TEAR OFF (verb)
The verb TEAR OFF has 1 sense:
1. remove by pulling or ripping violently and forcefully
Familiarity information: TEAR OFF used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Remove by pulling or ripping violently and forcefully
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
Context example:
The passing bus tore off her side mirror
Hypernyms (to "tear off" is one way to...):
remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Context examples
They tear off his gown and wave it in the air!
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Did I not see you trying to tear off another piece?
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"It is more becoming to have a large nose than two small ones" (Breton proverb)
"Dawn does not come twice to awaken a man." (Arabic proverb)
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." (Corsican proverb)