Tears vs. Sweat — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Tears and Sweat
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Tears
Tears are a clear liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands (tear gland) found in the eyes of all land mammals (except for goats and rabbits). Their functions include lubricating the eyes (basal tears), removing irritants (reflex tears), and aiding the immune system.
Sweat
Moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically in profuse quantities as a reaction to heat, physical exertion, fever, or fear
Beads of sweat broke out on her brow
Tears
To pull apart or into pieces by force; rend.
Sweat
Another term for sweatsuit or sweatpants
Tears
To cause to be pulled apart unintentionally, as by accident
Tore my pants on the barbed wire.
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Sweat
Exude sweat
He was sweating profusely
Tears
To lacerate (the skin, for example).
Sweat
Heat (chopped vegetables) slowly in a pan with a small amount of fat, so that they cook in their own juices
Sweat the celery and onions with olive oil and seasoning
Tears
To make (an opening) in something by pulling it apart or by accident
I tore a hole in my stocking.
Sweat
Subject (metal) to surface melting, especially to fasten or join by solder without a soldering iron
The tyre is sweated on to the wooden parts
Tears
To separate forcefully; wrench
Tore the pipe from the wall.
Sweat
To excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin; perspire.
Tears
To divide or disrupt
Was torn between opposing choices.
A country that was torn by strife.
Sweat
To exude in droplets, as moisture from certain cheeses or sap from a tree.
Tears
To become torn
The fabric does not tear easily.
Sweat
To collect moisture in small drops from the air, as a cold water pipe.
Tears
To move with heedless speed; rush headlong
Tore off down the road.
Tore along the avenue.
Sweat
To release moisture, as hay in the swath.
Tears
To become filled with tears
The strong wind caused my eyes to tear.
Sweat
To ferment, as tobacco during curing.
Tears
The act of tearing.
Sweat
(Informal) To work long and hard
Sweated over his term paper.
Tears
The result of tearing; a rip or rent
The shirt has a small tear.
Sweat
(Informal) To fret or worry
Don't sweat over the bills.
Tears
A great rush; a hurry.
Sweat
To excrete (moisture) through a porous surface, such as the skin.
Tears
(Slang) A carousal; a spree.
Sweat
To excrete (wastes) in perspiration
Sweated out the toxins in the steam room.
Tears
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.
Sweat
To have (moisture) condense in small drops on a surface.
Tears
Tears A profusion of this liquid spilling from the eyes and wetting the cheeks, especially as an expression of emotion.
Sweat
To cause to perspire, as by drugs, heat, or strenuous exercise
Running for the train got me sweated up.
Tears
Tears The act of weeping
Criticism that left me in tears.
Sweat
To make damp or wet with perspiration
His shirt was sweated.
Tears
A drop of a liquid or hardened fluid.
Sweat
To cause to work excessively; overwork.
Tears
Plural of tear
Sweat
To overwork and underpay (employees).
Tears
Viscous streaks left on the inside of the glass when certain wines are swirled around before tasting.
Sweat
To interrogate (someone) under duress
Sweated the suspected spy for hours.
Tears
The process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds);
I hate to hear the crying of a child
She was in tears
Sweat
To extract (information) from someone under duress
The police sweated the information out of the suspect.
Sweat
(Metallurgy) To join (metal parts) by interposing cold solder and then heating.
Sweat
To steam (vegetables or other food).
Sweat
(Informal) To fret or worry about
Don't sweat the details.
Sweat
The colorless saline moisture excreted by the sweat glands; perspiration.
Sweat
Condensation of moisture in the form of droplets on a surface.
Sweat
The process of sweating.
Sweat
A condition or instance of sweating
Worked up a sweat raking leaves.
Sweat
Strenuous labor or exertion
It took a lot of sweat to move the piano.
Sweat
A run given to a horse as exercise before a race.
Sweat
(Informal) An anxious, fretful condition
Got myself in a sweat over the deadline.
Sweat
A sweatsuit.
Sweat
Sweatpants.
Sweat
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
Sweat
The state of one who sweats; diaphoresis.
Just thinking about the interview tomorrow puts me into a nervous sweat.
Sweat
(figurative) Hard work; toil.
Sweat
(figurative) Moisture issuing from any substance.
Sweat
A short run by a racehorse as a form of exercise.
Sweat
(historical) The sweating sickness.
Sweat
A soldier (especially one who is old or experienced).
Sweat
An extremely competitive player.
Sweat
(intransitive) To emit sweat.
Sweat
(transitive) To cause to excrete moisture through skin.
Sweat
To cause to perspire.
His physicians attempted to sweat him by most powerful sudorifics.
Sweat
To work hard.
I've been sweating over my essay all day.
Sweat
(video games) To be extremely dedicated to winning a game; to play competitively.
Sweat
To extract money, labour, etc. from, by exaction or oppression.
To sweat a spendthrift
To sweat labourers
Sweat
To worry.
Sweat
To worry about (something).
Don't sweat it!
To sweat the small stuff
Sweat
(transitive) To emit, in the manner of sweat.
To sweat blood
Sweat
(intransitive) To emit moisture.
The cheese will start sweating if you don't refrigerate it.
Sweat
(intransitive) To have drops of water form on (something's surface) due to moisture condensation.
Coasters are a good way to stop a sweating glass from damaging your table.
Sweat
To solder (a pipe joint) together.
Sweat
To stress out.
Stop sweatin' me!
Sweat
To cook slowly at low heat, in shallow oil and without browning, to reduce moisture content.
Sweat
To remove a portion of (a coin), as by shaking it with others in a bag, so that the friction wears off a small quantity of the metal.
Sweat
(intransitive) To suffer a penalty; to smart for one's misdeeds.
Sweat
(transitive) To take a racehorse for a short exercise run.
Sweat
To excrete sensible moisture from the pores of the skin; to perspire.
Sweat
Fig.: To perspire in toil; to work hard; to drudge.
He 'd have the poets sweat.
Sweat
To emit moisture, as green plants in a heap.
Sweat
To cause to excrete moisture from the skin; to cause to perspire; as, his physicians attempted to sweat him by most powerful sudorifics.
Sweat
To emit or suffer to flow from the pores; to exude.
It made her not a drop for sweat.
With exercise she sweat ill humors out.
Sweat
To unite by heating, after the application of soldier.
Sweat
To get something advantageous, as money, property, or labor from (any one), by exaction or oppression; as, to sweat a spendthrift; to sweat laborers.
The only use of it [money] which is interdicted is to put it in circulation again after having diminished its weight by "sweating", or otherwise, because the quantity of metal contains is no longer consistent with its impression.
Sweat
The fluid which is excreted from the skin of an animal; the fluid secreted by the sudoriferous glands; a transparent, colorless, acid liquid with a peculiar odor, containing some fatty acids and mineral matter; perspiration. See Perspiration.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
Sweat
The act of sweating; or the state of one who sweats; hence, labor; toil; drudgery.
Sweat
Moisture issuing from any substance; as, the sweat of hay or grain in a mow or stack.
Sweat
The sweating sickness.
Sweat
A short run by a race horse in exercise.
Sweat
Salty fluid secreted by sweat glands;
Sweat poured off his brow
Sweat
Agitation resulting from active worry;
Don't get in a stew
He's in a sweat about exams
Sweat
Condensation of moisture on a cold surface;
The cold glasses were streaked with sweat
Sweat
Use of physical or mental energy; hard work;
He got an A for effort
They managed only with great exertion
Sweat
Excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin;
Exercise makes one sweat
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