Pronunciation: [tˈe͡əɹ ˈɒf] (IPA) 
The phrase "tear off" is spelled with the letter combination "ea" pronounced as /ɛ/ and an additional "r" after the vowel. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /tɛr ɒf/. This phrase means to quickly and forcefully remove or separate something, usually by pulling it apart. It is a common term used in household items such as paper towels or packaging materials that have perforated edges that can easily be torn off.
Tear off refers to the action of forcefully separating, removing, or detaching a piece or portion of something by pulling it away from its original structure or attachment point. It commonly involves using hands or an external force to rip, pull, or strip away a material or a part.
The term tear off can be used to describe a variety of actions across different contexts. For instance, it can involve tearing off a piece of paper from a notepad, removing a section of a perforated paper along the dotted lines, or pulling apart a sheet from a roll of paper towels. In construction or renovation settings, tearing off can refer to removing old or damaged materials like roofing shingles, wallpaper, or panels from a wall.
Tearing off can also pertain to removing a label or wrapper from a product, such as tearing off the plastic wrapping around a new book, a CD cover, or the cellophane wrapping on a box of chocolates. Additionally, it may refer to forcefully removing a section of clothing, like tearing off a sleeve or tearing off a strip of fabric.
In summary, tear off involves forcefully separating, stripping, or pulling away a part or piece of something, whether it be paper, materials, packaging, or fabric, usually by hand or external force.
The word "tear off" can be broken down into two parts: "tear" and "off".
The word "tear" originates from the Old English word "teran" which means "to rend or lacerate". This Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "teraną". From there, it can be linked to the Proto-Indo-European root "der(e)-" which means "to tear".
The word "off" is derived from the Old English word "of" which implies separation or removal. It is related to the Proto-Germanic word "af", which also carries the same meaning.
Therefore, when combined, "tear off" describes an action of separating or removing something by forcefully ripping or lacerating it.
