bear Definition

bear¹
verb bore (past tense), borne (past participle), born (past participle in sense 7b), bearing (present participle)

1. To support or sustain (a weight or load).
2. To take or accept.

Example: bear the blame
Thesaurus: tolerate, endure, sustain, suffer, support, abide, stomach, stand, weather, brook.
3. To put up with or tolerate something or someone.
4a. To allow; to be fit or suitable for something;

Example: It doesn't bear thinking about
4b. To stand up to or be capable of withstanding something.

Example: will not bear close scrutiny
5. To bring or take something with one; to carry.

Example: bearing gifts
Thesaurus: carry, transport, convey, transfer, tote.
6. To produce.

Example: bear fruit
Thesaurus: produce, yield, give birth to, bring forth, breed, engender, generate, propagate.
7a. To give birth to (a child or offspring);

Example: She bore three children
7b. In the passive using past participle born;

Example: He was born in 1990
7c. In the past tense using past participle borne;

Example: Has she borne children?
7d. In the passive using past participle borne, followed by by and the mother's name;

Example: a child borne by Mary
7e. With a direct and an indirect object to give birth to (the child of a man).

Example: She bore him a son
8. To carry something in one's thought or memory.

Example: bearing grudges
9. To have.

Example: bears no resemblance to his father
10. To show or be marked by something.

Example: Her cheeks bore the traces of tears
intr
11. To turn slightly in a given direction.

Example: bear left
12. To behave.

Example: bear oneself well

Idiom: bear fruit

To be productive; to bring results.

Idiom: bring something to bear

To apply or exert (especially pressure or influence), or bring something into operation.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon beran to carry or support.

Phrasal Verb: bear down on or upon someone or something

To move threateningly towards them or it.
Example: saw a lorry bearing down on them

Phrasal Verb: bear on something

To affect, concern or relate to it
Example: How does the new evidence bear on this case?

Phrasal Verb: bear someone or something out

To support or confirm them or it.
Example: The evidence bears out my original suspicions
Example: My colleagues will bear me out on this

Phrasal Verb: bear up

To remain strong or brave, etc under strain or difficult circumstances
Example: How is Jo bearing up after the accident?

Phrasal Verb: bear with someone

To be patient with them.
Example: Bear with me while I check this

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bear²
noun bears, bear

1. Any of various large carnivorous animals with a heavily built body covered with thick fur, short powerful limbs, small eyes and ears, strong claws and a short tail. Also in compounds;

Example: brown bear
Example: polar bear
2. A rough ill-mannered person.
3. A teddy bear.
4. stock exchange.
Someone who sells shares, hoping to buy them back later at a much lower price. Compare lame duck 4, bull¹ noun 4.

verb beared, bearing

1. To act as a bear (sense 4 above).
2. To lower the price of (a stock) or to depress (a market) by selling speculatively.

Derivative: bearish

Said of a person: like a bear in behaviour and manners; bad-tempered and rough.

Causing or linked with a fall in prices.

Idiom: like a bear with a sore head

colloq
Said of a person: exceptionally touchy and bad-tempered.

Derivative: the Great Bear

See separate entries.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon bera.