tears

/ tɪəz /

plural noun

1. the clear salty solution secreted by the lacrimal glands that lubricates and cleanses the surface of the eyeball and inner surface of the eyelids lachrymal
2. a state of intense frustration (esp in the phrase bored to tears )
3. in tears
   weeping
4. without tears
   presented so as to be easily assimilated

   reading without tears

Idioms and Phrases

see bore to death (tears) ; burst into (tears) ; crocodile tears . Also see under tear .

Example Sentences

Both players were in tears as Federer bowed out of the game.

From BBC

The actress, 60, said it drove her to tears, adding: "It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I found it so difficult to be that vulnerable."

From BBC

In the end, we got plenty of tears, as she appeared to repeatedly wilt under probing questioning, but few concrete answers.

From BBC

With tropical flair, the performance kicked off the three-hour spectacle, which brought the audience to its feet, tears to winners’ faces and nostalgic moments.

From Los Angeles Times

Although the mother of another girl had phoned the school in tears, Audrey F said she had called her back, with Samuel Paty also on the call, and said the mother appeared reassured.

From BBC

Related Words

• break
• crack
• damage
• divide
• grab
• injure
• mangle
• pull
• rive
• rupture
• separate
• sever
• shred
• slash
• snatch
• split
• wrench
• yank