tear-off

[ tair-awf, -of ]
/ ˈtɛərˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

adjective

designed to be easily removed by tearing, usually along a perforated line: a sales letter with a tear-off order blank.

Origin of tear-off

First recorded in 1885–90; adj., noun use of verb phrase tear off

Definition for tear off (2 of 2)

Origin of tear

2
before 900; Middle English teren (v.), Old English teran; cognate with Dutch teren, German zehren to consume, Gothic distairan to destroy, Greek dérein to flay

synonym study for tear

1. Tear, rend, rip mean to pull apart. To tear is to split the fibers of something by pulling apart, usually so as to leave ragged or irregular edges: to tear open a letter. Rend implies force or violence in tearing apart or in pieces: to rend one's clothes in grief. Rip implies vigorous tearing asunder, especially along a seam or line: to rip the sleeves out of a coat.

OTHER WORDS FROM tear

tear·a·ble, adjective tear·a·ble·ness, noun tear·er, noun un·tear·a·ble, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for tear off (1 of 3)

tear off
/ (tɛə) /

verb

(tr) to separate by tearing
(intr, adverb) to rush away; hurry
(tr, adverb) to produce in a hurry; do quickly and carelessly to tear off a letter
tear someone off a strip British informal to reprimand or rebuke someone forcibly

adjective tear-off

(of paper, etc) produced in a roll or block and marked with perforations so that one section at a time can be torn off

British Dictionary definitions for tear off (2 of 3)

tear 1
/ (tɪə) /

noun

a drop of the secretion of the lacrimal glands See tears
something shaped like a hanging drop a tear of amber
Also called (esp Brit): teardrop

Derived forms of tear

tearless, adjective

Word Origin for tear

Old English tēar, related to Old Frisian, Old Norse tār, Old High German zahar, Greek dakri

British Dictionary definitions for tear off (3 of 3)

tear 2
/ (tɛə) /

verb tears, tearing, tore or torn

noun

Derived forms of tear

tearable, adjective tearer, noun

Word Origin for tear

Old English teran; related to Old Saxon terian, Gothic gatairan to destroy, Old High German zeran to destroy

Scientific definitions for tear off

tear
[ tîr ]

A drop of the clear salty liquid secreted by glands (lacrimal glands) in the eyes. Tears wet the membrane covering the eye and help rid the eye of irritating substances.

Idioms and Phrases with tear off (1 of 2)

tear off

1

Produce hurriedly and casually, as in He tore off a poem a day for an entire month.

2

Leave in a hurry, as in She tore off to the store because it was about to close. [c. 1900]

Idioms and Phrases with tear off (2 of 2)

tear