Tear vs. Shred — What's the Difference?

To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.

A strip of material, such as paper, cloth, or food, that has been torn, cut, or scraped from something larger

To cause to be pulled apart unintentionally, as by accident

Tear or cut into shreds.

To lacerate (the skin, for example).

Play a very fast, intricate style of rock lead guitar

To make (an opening) in something by pulling it apart or by accident

A long irregular strip that is cut or torn off.

To separate forcefully; wrench

A small amount; a particle

To divide or disrupt

To cut or tear into shreds.

To become torn

To use a mechanical shredder to shred (paper documents, for example).

To move with heedless speed; rush headlong

To make a series of quick turns on a wave or snow, for example, when riding a board such as a surfboard or snowboard.

To become filled with tears

To play fast solos accompanied by special techniques on the electric guitar.

The act of tearing.

A fragment of something; a particle; a piece; also, a very small amount.

The result of tearing; a rip or rent

A long, narrow piece (especially of fabric) cut or torn off; a strip; specifically, a piece of cloth or clothing.

A great rush; a hurry.

(by extension) A thin strand or wisp, as of a cloud, mist, etc.

(Slang) A carousal; a spree.

(cooking) A thin strip of fruit peel, a vegetable, etc., cut so that it curls.

A drop of the clear salty liquid that is secreted by the lachrymal gland of the eye to lubricate the surface between the eyeball and eyelid and to wash away irritants.

(archaic) A piece of gold or silver lace or thread.

Tears A profusion of this liquid spilling from the eyes and wetting the cheeks, especially as an expression of emotion.

(rare) A shard or glass]] or pottery.

Tears The act of weeping

(obsolete) A tailor.

A drop of a liquid or hardened fluid.

(transitive)

(transitive) To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.

To cut or tear (something) into long, narrow pieces or strips.

(transitive) To injure as if by pulling apart.

(specifically)

(transitive) To destroy or reduce abstract unity or coherence, such as social, political or emotional.

To separate (something) into small portions.

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

(archaic) To cut or sever (something) into two parts.

To remove by tearing.

(obsolete)

To demolish

(intransitive)

(intransitive) To become torn, especially accidentally.

To become separated into small portions.

(intransitive) To move or act with great speed, energy, or violence.

(bodybuilding) To reduce body weight due to fat and water before a competition.

(intransitive) To smash or enter something with great force.

To travel swiftly using a snowboard, surfboard, or vehicle.

(intransitive) To produce tears.

Synonym of shredded

A hole or break caused by tearing.

A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip.

(slang) A rampage.

In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle.

A drop of clear, salty liquid produced from the eyes by crying or irritation.

To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and long pieces, as of cloth or leather.

Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

To lop; to prune; to trim.

(glass manufacture) A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

A tiny or scarcely detectable amount

That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.

A small piece of cloth or paper

A drop of the limpid, saline fluid secreted, normally in small amount, by the lachrymal gland, and diffused between the eye and the eyelids to moisten the parts and facilitate their motion. Ordinarily the secretion passes through the lachrymal duct into the nose, but when it is increased by emotion or other causes, it overflows the lids.

Tear into shreds

Something in the form of a transparent drop of fluid matter; also, a solid, transparent, tear-shaped drop, as of some balsams or resins.

That which causes or accompanies tears; a lament; a dirge.

A partially vitrified bit of clay in glass.

The act of tearing, or the state of being torn; a rent; a fissure.

To separate by violence; to pull apart by force; to rend; to lacerate; as, to tear cloth; to tear a garment; to tear the skin or flesh.

Hence, to divide by violent measures; to disrupt; to rend; as, a party or government torn by factions.

To rend away; to force away; to remove by force; to sunder; as, a child torn from its home.

To pull with violence; as, to tear the hair.

To move violently; to agitate.

To divide or separate on being pulled; to be rent; as, this cloth tears easily.

To move and act with turbulent violence; to rush with violence; hence, to rage; to rave.

A drop of the clear salty saline solution secreted by the lacrimal glands;

An opening made forcibly as by pulling apart;

An occasion for excessive eating or drinking;

The act of tearing;

Separate or cause to separate abruptly;

To separate or be separated by force;

Move quickly and violently;

Strip of feathers;

Fill with tears or shed tears;