tear-off

1 of 2

noun

plural -s
: part of a piece of paper intended to be removed by tearing usually along a marked line (as a row of dashes)

tear off

2 of 2

transitive verb

: to compose rapidly
tore off a whole play in three weeks
just in time to tear off a letter home

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from the phrase tear off

Transitive verb

tear entry 3

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near tear-off

Cite this Entry

“Tear-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear-off. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!