Tear gas is a gas that causes your eyes to sting and fill with tears so that you cannot see. It is sometimes used by the police or army to control crowds.
Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
tear gas in American English
(tɪr)
a volatile liquid or gas that causes irritation of the eyes, a heavy flow of tears, and temporary blindness: used as in warfare or by the police
Derived forms
tear-gas (ˈtear-ˌgas)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈtear-ˌgassed or ˈtear-ˌgassing
Examples of 'tear gas' in a sentence
tear gas
Athens resembled a war zone this week as buildings burnt, demonstrators clashed with riot police and the stench of tear gas filled the air.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
tear gas
Chemical warfare gases
In other languages
tear gas
British English: tear gas /tɪə ɡæs/ NOUN
Tear gas is a gas that causes your eyes to sting and fill with tears so that you cannot see. It is sometimes used by the police or army to control crowds.