26984 words

bear

22 definitions ā€¢ 41 examples
1
to accept, tolerate, or endure something, especially something unpleasant:

Examples:

The strain must have been enormous but she bore it well.
Tell me now! I can't bear the suspense!
[ + to infinitive ] He couldn't bear to see the dog in pain.
[ + -ing verb ] I can't bear being bored.
2
to be responsible for something:

Examples:

bear responsibility It's your decision - you have to bear the responsibility if things go wrong.
bear the burden They say that landlords should bear the burden of these repairs and not tenants.
bear the cost I suggest you claim on your insurance rather than bearing the cost yourselves.
3
to be too unpleasant or frightening to think about:

Examples:

"What if she'd been driving faster?" "It doesn't bear thinking about."
4
to have or continue to have something:

Examples:

bear something in mind Thank you for your advice - I'll bear it in mind (= I will remember and consider it).
bear a resemblance to Their baby bears a strong resemblance to its grandfather.
bear no resemblance to The game is colourful and exciting, but bears no resemblance to (= is completely different from) real driving.
The stone plaque bearing his name was smashed to pieces.
On display were boxing gloves that bore Rocky Marciano's signature.
[ + two objects ] I don't bear them any ill feeling (= I do not continue to be angry with or dislike them).
5
to hold or support something:

Examples:

bear someone's weight The chair, too fragile to bear her weight, collapsed.
bear the weight of I don't think that the table will bear the weight of the heavy machinery.
6
to give birth to young, or (of a tree or plant) to give or produce fruit or flowers:

Examples:

The pear tree they planted has never borne fruit.
She had borne six children by the time she was 30.
[ + two objects ] When his wife bore him a child he could not hide his delight.
Most animals bear their young in the spring.
7
to carry and move something to a place:

Examples:

bear gifts At Christmas the family all arrive at the house bearing gifts.
Countless waiters bore trays of drinks into the room.
The sound of the ice cream van was borne into the office on the wind.
8
to change direction slightly so that you are going in a particular direction:

Examples:

bear left After you go past the church keep bearing left.
bear right Bear right at the fork in the road.
9
to say you know from your own experience that something happened or is true:

Examples:

bear witness to She bore witness to his patience and diligence.
10
If something bears testimony to a fact, it proves that it is true:

Examples:

The iron bridge bears testimony to the skills developed in that era.
11
to lie:

Examples:

He accused his neighbour of bearing false witness against him.
12

Examples:

A mother bear is fiercely protective of her cubs.
a brown/black bear
13
an older gay man who is large and has a lot of hair on his body
14
a person who sells shares when prices are expected to fall, in order to make a profit by buying them back again at a lower price
15
a large, strong mammal with thick fur that lives esp. in colder parts of the world:

Examples:

16
to carry or bring something:

Examples:

Fans bearing banners ringed the stadium.
17
to hold or support something:

Examples:

The bridge has to be strengthened to bear heavier loads.
18
to accept something painful or unpleasant with determination and strength:

Examples:

[ T ] Since you will bear most of the responsibility, you should get the rewards.
[ + to infinitive ] He could not bear to see her suffering.
19
to have as a quality or characteristic:

Examples:

My life bore little resemblance to what Iā€™d hoped for.
20
(of mammals) to give birth to young, or of a tree or plant to give or produce fruit or flowers:

Examples:

She bore three children in five years.
21
to travel or move in the stated direction:

Examples:

After you pass the light, bear left until you come to a bank.
22
someone who expects prices on a financial market to go down and sells their shares, etc. hoping to buy them back in the future at a lower price:

Examples:

The brokerage, which has been a persistent bear in recent months, switched its recommendation from sell to hold.
The bears are driven by bad economic news from Japan, such as July's 2.4% monthly slump in industrial production.

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