Tear vs Tare
Tear and tare are similar because they are (usually) homophones (words that sound the same), but they have different spellings and meanings. Both tear and tare rhyme with “air.” Tear can be a verb or a noun. As a verb, it can have several meanings based on pulling something apart by force either literally with hands and tools or in a non-literal way by figurative division (see definition for examples). As a noun, it refers to the result of something being pulled apart like in the verb form. Tare can also be a verb or a noun. As a noun, it can refer to a type of tufted grass or vetch (a plant in the pea family), a seed of a vetch, or an empty container’s weight. As a verb, it means to factor in the weight of a container.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Tear (verb)
- To pull something apart by force either by accident or on purpose. It can be with hands, tools, or something else.
Examples:
Don’t forget to tear your paper in half when you’re finished.
The wall was torn open by the monster’s giant hands.
- An injury where a ligament, muscle, etc. is pulled apart.
Examples:
She suffered an athlete’s worst fear: she tore her ACL.
Stretching before working out helps prevent tearing muscles.
- To divide a person, people, organization, etc. The division can be emotional, ideological, social, etc.
Examples:
The old church community was torn in two after the appointment of the new leader.
The spy had torn the organization apart through misinformation and deceit.
Note: Tear has a few more meanings based on figurative interpretations of pulling something apart. With a different pronunciation (rhyming with “ear”), it can also mean when someone’s eyes fill with water (tears), although this pronunciation is not the same as tare.
Tear (noun)
The result of the verb to tear; a hole or flaw made from tearing.
Examples:
The tear in the fabric is too deep and cannot be mended.
There’s a tear in the wall in the second-story bathroom.
Tare (noun)
- A type of tufted grass or vetch (a plant in the pea family); the seed of a vetch.
Examples:
Do you grow tare?
Is tare edible?
- The empty weight of a container like a shipping container, chest, box, etc.
Examples:
Did you factor in the tare when calculating the cost of shipping?
Metal containers will have a much higher tare than cardboard boxes.
Tare (verb)
To factor in the weight of an empty container.
Examples:
The computer system made an error because the program didn’t tare the box.
Taring is important as it helps businesses work out their budgets.
Main Points
- Tear and tare have the same pronunciation (rhymes with “air”), but different spellings and meanings.
- Tear usually refers to the action or result of something being torn apart literally or figuratively.
- Tare can either be a type of plant or the empty weight of a container.
- Tare can also be the action of calculating the weight of an empty container.