lacerate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb cut or tear irregularly
  2. verb deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
    • his lacerating remarks
  3. adjective satellite irregularly slashed and jagged as if torn
    lacerated.
    • lacerate leaves
  4. adjective satellite having edges that are jagged from injury
    torn; lacerated; mangled.

WordNet

Lac"er*ate transitive verb
Etymology
L. laceratus, p. p. of lacerare to lacerate, fr. lacer mangled, lacerated; cf. Gr. a rent, rending, to tear; perh. akin to E. slay.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lacerated ; present participle & verbal noun Lacerating
Definitions
  1. To tear; to rend; to separate by tearing; to mangle; as, to lacerate the flesh. Hence: To afflict; to torture; as, to lacerate the heart.
Lac"er*ate, Lac"er*a`ted participial adjective (Also<
  • Lacerate
  • Lacerated
)
Etymology
L. laceratus, p. p.
Definitions
  1. Rent; torn; mangled; as, a lacerated wound.
    By each other's fury lacerate Southey.
  2. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Jagged, or slashed irregularly, at the end, or along the edge.

Webster 1913