WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
lac•er•a•tion
(las′ə rā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- Pathologythe result of lacerating;
a rough, jagged tear. - Pathologythe act of lacerating.
- Latin lacerātiōn- (stem of lacerātiō). See lacerate, -ion
- 1590–1600
lac•er•ate /v. ˈlæsəˌreɪt; adj. -əˌreɪt, -ərɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -at•ed, -at•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Pathologyto tear roughly;
cut;
mangle:The bull's leg had been lacerated by the barbed wire. - to distress or torture mentally or emotionally:His criticism lacerated my heart.
lac•er•ate
(v. las′ə rāt′;adj. las′ə rāt′, -ər it),USA pronunciation v., -at•ed, -at•ing, adj.
v.t.
adj.
lac′er•a•ble, adj.
lac•er•a•bil•i•ty
(las′ər ə bil′i tē),USA pronunciation n.
lac•er•a•tive
(las′ə rā′tiv, -ər ə tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
v.t.
- Pathologyto tear roughly;
mangle:The barbed wire lacerated his hands. - to distress or torture mentally or emotionally;
wound deeply;
pain greatly:His bitter criticism lacerated my heart.
adj.
- lacerated.
- Latin lacerātus, past participle of lacerāre to tear up (derivative of lacer mangled); see -ate1
- 1535–45
- 1. rend. See maim.
'laceration' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):