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tear

A tear is a long narrow split or hole in cloth, paper, or a similar material caused by pulling or ripping.

In plain English

This means damage where a material has opened into a thin split or a hole. It applies to cloth, paper, and other similar materials. The damage is caused by pulling or ripping.

In context

Here, "tear" reports a long narrow split or hole in fabric or another similar soft material caused by pulling or ripping.

Situation
Managing move-in, move-out, inventory, keys, deposits, and condition reports
What it communicates
identifies a rip noted in fabric or other soft material.

Meaning limits

The term alone does not show the size or seriousness of the damage beyond it being a long narrow split or hole.

Examples

“A tear ran down the paper bag when he lifted it by one handle.”

Core meaning

“She noticed a tear in the curtain as she drew it closed.”

In context