bear

1. to hold up; support:

   to bear the weight of the roof.

   Synonyms: sustain, uphold

2. to hold or remain firm under (a load):

   The roof will not bear the strain of his weight.

3. to bring forth (young); give birth to:

   to bear a child.

4. to produce by natural growth:

   a tree that bears fruit.

   Synonyms: yield

5. to hold up under; be capable of:

   His claim doesn't bear close examination.

6. to press or push against:

   The crowd was borne back by the police.

   Synonyms: force, drive, thrust

7. to hold or carry (oneself, one's body, one's head, etc.):

   to bear oneself erectly.

8. to conduct (oneself ):

   to bear oneself bravely.

9. to suffer; endure; undergo:

   to bear the blame.

10. to sustain without yielding or suffering injury; tolerate (usually used in negative constructions, unless qualified):

    I can't bear your nagging. I can hardly bear to see her suffering so.

    Synonyms: suffer, abide, brook

11. to be fit for or worthy of:

    It doesn't bear repeating.

12. to carry; bring:

    to bear gifts.

13. to carry in the mind or heart: to bear malice.

    to bear love;

    to bear malice.

14. to transmit or spread (gossip, tales, etc.).
15. to render; afford; give: to bear testimony.

    to bear witness;

    to bear testimony.

16. to lead; guide; take:

    They bore him home.

17. to have and be entitled to:

    to bear title.

18. to exhibit; show:

    to bear a resemblance.

19. to accept or have, as an obligation: to bear the cost.

    to bear responsibility;

    to bear the cost.

20. to stand in (a relation or ratio); have or show correlatively:

    the relation that price bears to profit.

21. to possess, as a quality or characteristic; have in or on: to bear an inscription.

    to bear traces;

    to bear an inscription.

22. to have and use; exercise: to bear sway.

    to bear authority;

    to bear sway.

1. to tend in a course or direction; move; go: to bear left at the fork in the road.

   to bear west;

   to bear left at the fork in the road.

2. to be located or situated:

   The lighthouse bears due north.

3. to bring forth young or fruit:

   Next year the tree will bear.

verb phrase

1. 1. to press or weigh down.
   2. to strive harder; intensify one's efforts:

      We can't hope to finish unless everyone bears down.

   3. Nautical. to approach from windward, as a ship:

      The cutter was bearing down the channel at twelve knots.

2. 1. Nautical. to keep (a boat) from touching or rubbing against a dock, another boat, etc.
   2. Nautical. to steer away.
   3. Backgammon. to remove the stones from the board after they are all home.
3. to affect, relate to, or have connection with; be relevant to:

   This information may bear on the case.

4. to be patient or forbearing with:

   Please bear with me until I finish the story.

5. to endure; face hardship bravely:

   It is inspiring to see them bearing up so well.

6. to substantiate; confirm:

   The facts bear me out.

7. 1. to press or weigh down on.
   2. to strive toward.
   3. to approach something rapidly.
   4. Nautical. to approach (another vessel) from windward:

      The sloop bore down on us, narrowly missing our stern.

1. any of the plantigrade, carnivorous or omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, having massive bodies, coarse heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost rudimentary tails.
2. any of various animals resembling the bear, as the ant bear.
3. a gruff, burly, clumsy, bad-mannered, or rude person.
4. a person who believes that market prices, especially of stocks, will decline ( bull ).
5. Informal. a person who shows great ability, enthusiasm, stamina, etc.:

   a bear for physics.

6. Bear, Astronomy. either of two constellations, Ursa Major or Ursa Minor.
7. Informal. a player at cards who rarely bluffs.
8. Bear. Russia.

1. having to do with or marked by declining prices, as of stocks:

   bear market.

1. Stock Exchange. to force prices down in (a market, stock, etc.).

1. Mount Bear, a mountain in southern Alaska, in the Saint Elias Mountains. 14,831 feet (4,520 meters).