Make easier to tear, in a way

Perforate is a word that means to make small holes or punctures in something. The crossword question is asking for a word that means to make something easier to tear in this way. The answer, therefore, is also perforate, since creating small holes in something can make it easier to tear along the dotted line. For example, a sheet of paper with perforations along the edge is easier to tear into individual sections than a sheet without them. So, the solution to this crossword question is perforate.