bearing

[ bair-ing ]

noun

1. the manner in which one conducts or carries oneself, including posture and gestures:

   a man of dignified bearing.

   Synonyms: conduct, behavior, demeanor, mien, carriage

2. the act, capability, or period of producing or bringing forth:

   a tree past bearing.

3. something that is produced; a crop.
4. the act of enduring or capacity to endure.
5. reference or relation (usually followed by on ):

   It has some bearing on the problem.

   Synonyms: application, dependency, connection

6. Architecture.
   1. a supporting part of a structure.
   2. the area of contact between a bearing member, as a beam, and a pier, wall, or other underlying support.
7. Machinery. the support and guide for a rotating, oscillating, or sliding shaft, pivot, or wheel.
8. Often bearings. direction or relative position:

   The pilot radioed his bearings.

   Synonyms: aim, course

9. Surveying. a horizontal direction expressed in degrees east or west of a true or magnetic north or south direction.
10. Heraldry. any single device on an escutcheon; charge.

bearing

/ ˈbɛərɪŋ /

noun

1. a support, guide, or locating piece for a rotating or reciprocating mechanical part
2. foll byon or upon relevance (to)

   it has no bearing on this problem

3. a person's general social conduct, esp in manners, dress, and behaviour
4. 1. the act, period, or capability of producing fruit or young
   2. an amount produced; yield
5. the part of a beam or lintel that rests on a support
6. anything that carries weight or acts as a support
7. the angular direction of a line, point, or course measured from true north or south ( true bearing ), magnetic north or south ( magnetic bearing ), or one's own position
8. usually plural the position or direction, as of a ship, fixed with reference to two or more known points
9. usually plural a sense of one's relative position or situation; orientation (esp in the phrases lose , get , or take one's bearings )
10. heraldry
    1. a device or emblem on a heraldic shield; charge
    2. another name for coat of arms

Other Words From

• un·bearing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bearing¹

First recorded in 1200–50, bearing is from the Middle English word beryng. See bear ¹, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

See manner ¹.

Example Sentences

The others are difficult to identify, since they reacted with other oxygen-bearing molecules in the soil.

From The Daily Beast

Their decay proceeded without a ready supply of oxygen, producing hydrocarbons like methane instead of oxygen-bearing molecules.

From The Daily Beast

Thanks to the film bearing his name, Oskar Schindler is probably the most well-known of these, but there are many others.

From The Daily Beast

For his part, Logan now believes that more than 95 percent of cone bearing trees are infected.

From The Daily Beast

As the Harvard Crimson noted, Byrne “had been bearing the brunt of the Harvard attack” all afternoon.

From The Daily Beast

The sense of bearing on to the voice, or endeavoring to push the tone by any pressure whatever, should be absolutely avoided.

From Project Gutenberg

One, a man of distinguished looks and military bearing, was a little in advance of the other two.

From Project Gutenberg

From several doorways other men emerged, some of martial bearing, showing that the place was garrisoned to some extent.

From Project Gutenberg

My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them.

From Project Gutenberg

This he did, erecting at the harbor a beautiful cross bearing the arms of France.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• demeanor
• manner