tear · noun C usually plural /tɪər/
Word family
Nouns: tear
Adjectives: tearful
Adverbs: tearfully
tear
B1 a drop of water that comes from your eye when you cry
Dictionary examples:
These are tears of joy.
Did you notice the tears in his eyes when he talked about Diane?
Her eyes filled with tears.
Learner example:
I had to fight the tears of rage, and my heart beat as fast as a drum. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)
in tears
B1 crying
Dictionary example:
I found him in tears in his bedroom.
Learner example:
By the end of it, Mary Anne was nearly in tears. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Bengali)
burst into tears
B1 to suddenly start to cry
Dictionary example:
She burst into tears and ran out of the room.
Learner example:
She burst into tears. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)
shed tears
C1 to cry
Dictionary example:
I shed a few tears when he left.
Learner example:
She was too preoc[c]upied to talk to anybody and she had shed so many tears that she could cry no more. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Spanish)
