tear apart phr v[T] 1 [ tear sth ↔ apart] to make the people in a family, organization, country etc argue or fight with each other 分裂〔家庭、组织、国家等〕: Yugoslavia was torn apart by a bloody civil war. 南斯拉夫被一场血腥的内战搞得四分五裂。 2 [ tear sb/sth ↔ apart] to destroy something or someone 摧毁 3 [ tear sb apart] to make someone extremely unhappy or upset 使苦恼［不安］: It tears me apart to see Linda cry. 看到琳达哭泣，我的心都碎了。