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Tears: meaning, definitions and examples

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tears

 

[ tɪərz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

crying

Tears are the clear salty liquid that comes out of your eyes when you cry or when they are irritated.

Synonyms

droplets, teardrops.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
tears

Commonly used to describe the liquid that falls from someone’s eyes when they are crying. It can be used in emotional or dramatic situations, both positive and negative.

  • She couldn't hold back her tears of joy after hearing the good news
  • His tears of sorrow were evident during the funeral
teardrops

A poetic or artistic term often used to describe the shape of tears or similar small drops of liquid. It can convey a more visual or delicate perspective.

  • She wore a necklace with a teardrop-shaped pendant
  • The window was decorated with tiny teardrops of rain
droplets

Used to describe small drops of any liquid, not necessarily linked to emotions or crying. Typically used in scientific or descriptive contexts.

  • The grass was covered in tiny droplets of morning dew
  • When he spoke, droplets of water sprayed from his mouth

Examples of usage

  • She wiped away her tears with a tissue.
  • Tears streamed down her face as she listened to the sad news.
Context #2 | Noun

emotion

Tears are also the drops of salty liquid that come out of your eyes when you are very happy or sad.

Synonyms

emotional tears, weeping.

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Word Description / Examples
tears

General term describing the droplets of liquid produced by the eyes, often due to emotions or physical irritation.

  • She wiped away her tears as she read the heartfelt letter
  • His eyes filled with tears from the sudden gust of wind
emotional tears

Specifically refers to tears produced as a result of strong emotions such as sadness, joy, or relief.

  • His emotional tears showed how deeply he was moved by the speech
  • Emotional tears welled up in her eyes as she watched the touching reunion
weeping

A more poetic or formal way to describe the act of crying, often with a connotation of prolonged or deep sorrow.

  • She spent the night weeping over the loss of her beloved pet
  • The widow was found weeping softly by the graveside

Examples of usage

  • Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks when she won the award.
  • He couldn't hold back his tears when he heard the tragic news.
Context #3 | Noun

physical

Tears are necessary for keeping the surface of the eye moist and for washing away any foreign particles.

Synonyms

eye liquid, eye moisture.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
tears

Used to describe the drops of liquid that flow from the eyes when someone is crying due to emotions such as sadness, joy, or pain.

  • She couldn't hold back her tears during the emotional speech.
  • His tears flowed freely as he watched the touching movie.
eye moisture

A term that refers to the thin layer of liquid that covers the eyes to keep them lubricated and comfortable, typically used in more neutral or general discussions about eye health.

  • Eye moisture varies throughout the day, especially if you're using a computer or reading a lot.
  • Maintaining proper eye moisture is important for overall eye comfort.
eye liquid

A more scientific or technical term, often used in medical or anatomical contexts to describe the liquid produced by the eyes to keep them moist.

  • The doctor explained that eye liquid helps to keep the eyes healthy and free from irritants.
  • A lack of eye liquid can lead to dry eye syndrome.

Examples of usage

  • Tears help to protect the eyes from dust and debris.
  • Excessive tears can be a sign of an underlying eye problem.

Translations

Translations of the word "tears" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lágrimas

🇮🇳 आँसू

🇩🇪 Tränen

🇮🇩 air mata

🇺🇦 сльози

🇵🇱 łzy

🇯🇵 涙 (namida)

🇫🇷 larmes

🇪🇸 lágrimas

🇹🇷 gözyaşları

🇰🇷 눈물 (nunmul)

🇸🇦 دموع (dumu')

🇨🇿 slzy

🇸🇰 slzy

🇨🇳 眼泪 (yǎnlèi)

🇸🇮 solze

🇮🇸 tár

🇰🇿 көз жасы

🇬🇪 ცრემლები (ts'remlebi)

🇦🇿 göz yaşları

🇲🇽 lágrimas

Etymology

The word 'tears' originated from the Old English word 'tear', which is related to the Dutch word 'traan' and the German word 'Träne'. Tears have been associated with human emotions for centuries, symbolizing both sorrow and joy. The act of crying tears is a universal expression of human emotion, with tears being a natural response to various stimuli such as sadness, happiness, pain, or irritation.

See also: tear, teardrop, tearful, tearjerker.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,836, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.