Rip vs. Tear

Rip vs. Tear — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Rip and Tear

Ripnoun

A tear (in paper, etc.).

Tearverb

(transitive) To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.

He tore his coat on the nail.

Ripnoun

A type of tide or current.

Tearverb

(transitive) To injure as if by pulling apart.

He has a torn ligament.He tore some muscles in a weight-lifting accident.

Ripnoun

(Australia) A strong outflow of surface water, away from the shore, that returns water from incoming waves.

Tearverb

(transitive) To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

He was torn by conflicting emotions.
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Ripnoun

(slang) A comical, embarrassing, or hypocritical event or action.

Tearverb

(transitive) To make (an opening) with force or energy.

A piece of debris tore a tiny straight channel through the satellite.His boss will tear him a new one when he finds out.The artillery tore a gap in the line.

Ripnoun

(slang) A hit (dose) of marijuana.

Tearverb

To remove by tearing.

Tear the coupon out of the newspaper.

Ripnoun

A black mark given for substandard schoolwork.

Tearverb

To demolish

The slums were torn down to make way for the new development.
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Ripnoun

(slang) Something unfairly expensive, a rip-off.

Tearverb

(intransitive) To become torn, especially accidentally.

My dress has torn.

Ripnoun

A wicker basket for fish.

Tearverb

(intransitive) To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.

He went tearing down the hill at 90 miles per hour.The tornado lingered, tearing through town, leaving nothing upright.He tore into the backlog of complaints.

Ripnoun

A worthless horse; a nag.

Tearverb

(intransitive) To smash or enter something with great force.

The chain shot tore into the approaching line of infantry.

Ripnoun

An immoral man; a rake, a scoundrel.

Tearverb

(intransitive) To produce tears.

Her eyes began to tear in the harsh wind.

Ripverb

(transitive) To divide or separate the parts of (especially something flimsy such as paper or fabric), by cutting or tearing; to tear off or out by violence.

to rip a garment; to rip up a floor

Tearnoun

A hole or break caused by tearing.

A small tear is easy to mend, if it is on the seam.

Ripverb

(intransitive) To tear apart; to rapidly become two parts.

My shirt ripped when it was caught on a bramble.

Tearnoun

(slang) A rampage.

to go on a tear

Ripverb

(transitive) To get by, or as if by, cutting or tearing.

Tearnoun

A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.

There were big tears rolling down Lisa's cheeks.Ryan wiped the tear from the paper he was crying on.

Ripverb

To move quickly and destructively.

Tearnoun

Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

Ripverb

(woodworking) To cut wood along (parallel to) the grain. Contrast crosscut.

Tearnoun

(glass manufacture) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

Ripverb

To copy data from CD, DVD, Internet stream, etc. to a hard drive, portable device, etc.

Tearnoun

That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.

Ripverb

To take a "hit" of marijuana.

Tearnoun

a drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands;

his story brought tears to her eyes

Ripverb

(slang) To fart.

Tearnoun

an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart;

there was a rip in his pantsshe had snags in her stockings

Ripverb

To mock or criticize (someone or something). (often used with on)

Tearnoun

an occasion for excessive eating or drinking;

they went on a bust that lasted three days

Ripverb

To steal; to rip off.

Tearnoun

the act of tearing;

he took the manuscript in both hands and gave it a mighty tear

Ripverb

To move or act fast, to rush headlong.

Tearverb

separate or cause to separate abruptly;

The rope snappedtear the paper

Ripverb

(archaic) To tear up for search or disclosure, or for alteration; to search to the bottom; to discover; to disclose; usually with up.

Tearverb

to separate or be separated by force;

planks were in danger of being torn from the crossbars

Ripverb

To surf extremely well.

Tearverb

move quickly and violently;

The car tore down the streetHe came charging into my office

Ripnoun

a dissolute man in fashionable society

Tearverb

strip of feathers;

pull a chickenpluck the capon

Ripnoun

an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart;

there was a rip in his pantsshe had snags in her stockings

Tearverb

fill with tears or shed tears;

Her eyes were tearing

Ripnoun

a stretch of turbulent water in a river or the sea caused by one current flowing into or across another current

Ripnoun

the act of rending or ripping or splitting something;

he gave the envelope a vigorous rip

Ripverb

tear or be torn violently;

The curtain ripped from top to bottompull the cooked chicken into strips

Ripverb

move precipitously or violently;

The tornado ripped along the coast

Ripverb

cut (wood) along the grain

Ripverb

criticize or abuse strongly and violently;

The candidate ripped into his opponent mercilessly