tear-drop

A single tear-drop rolled down her cheek.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A single drop of liquid from the eye: "tear-drop" refers to a small, often clear droplet of saline fluid produced by the lacrimal glands, typically as a result of emotion (such as sadness, joy, or pain) or irritation.
   • A teardrop shape: "tear-drop" can also denote a shape resembling such a droplet, with a rounded bottom and a pointed top, often used in design or jewellery.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A single tear-drop rolled down her cheek. (A droplet of liquid from the eye.)
  • The pendant was crafted in the form of a tear-drop. (A shape resembling a droplet.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tear-drop tattoo": In some cultures, a tattoo shaped like a tear-drop worn on the face, often symbolizing a past crime or loss.

  • He had a tear-drop tattoo near his eye. (A symbolic tattoo in a teardrop shape.)

• "Tear-drop effect": In meteorology or fluid dynamics, the phenomenon where a liquid forms a droplet with a tapered top due to gravity or surface tension.

  • The rain created a tear-drop effect on the windowpane. (The water formed droplets with pointed tops.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tear (n): a single droplet of fluid from the eye (the root word of "tear-drop").

  • A tear fell onto the letter. (A single droplet from the eye.)

• Tearful (adj): full of or accompanied by tears.

  • She gave a tearful goodbye. (The goodbye involved tears.)

• Tearless (adj): without tears.

  • He remained tearless despite the sad news. (He did not cry.)

Synonyms

• Droplet: a small drop of liquid.
• Globule: a small spherical or teardrop-shaped mass of liquid.

Related Idioms

• "Shed a tear-drop": to cry a single tear.

  • He shed a tear-drop at the funeral. (He cried one tear.)

• "Not a tear-drop was seen": no sign of crying or emotion.

  • Not a tear-drop was seen during the speech. (No one cried visibly.)

Phrasal Verbs (none directly applicable to "tear-drop")

• Note: "tear-drop" is a noun, not a verb, so no phrasal verbs are formed from it. However, related phrasal verbs with "tear" (the verb meaning to pull apart) exist but are unrelated.
  • Tear up: to rip into pieces or to become emotional and cry (though "tear" here is a different homograph).

    • She tore up the letter. (She ripped it apart.)