v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Lacerated p. pr. & vb. n. Lacerating ] [ L. laceratus, p. p. of lacerare to lacerate, fr. lacer mangled, lacerated; cf. Gr. &unr_; a rent, rending, &unr_; to tear; perh. akin to E. slay. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]