tearing

1. 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.

2. To injure as if by pulling apart.

   He has a torn ligament.

3. To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

   He was torn by conflicting emotions.

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

   A piece of debris tore a tiny straight channel through the satellite.

5. (often with off or out) To remove by tearing.

   Tear the coupon out of the newspaper.

6. (of structures, with down) To demolish

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

7. To become torn, especially accidentally.

   My dress has torn.

8. To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.

   He tore into the backlog of complaints.

9. To smash or enter something with great force.

   The chain shot tore into the approaching line of infantry.

1. To produce tears.

   Her eyes began to tear in the harsh wind.

1. The act by which something is torn; a laceration.
2. Distortion of an animated display when the contents of the framebuffer are rendered while it contains portions of two or more frames.

1. Enormous; of great size or impact

   a tearing great giant of a man

2. Very hasty

   a tearing hurry

noun

Continuous shedding of tears; epiphora