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 byon ).

   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. 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 Word Forms

• unbearing 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

While there has not been widespread consumer inflation as a result, businesses have reported strains from bearing the brunt of higher import costs.

Read more on Barron's

After a debut season spent finding his bearings at USC, the fiery coach made it clear he felt he and his staff didn’t do enough to promote the Trojans basketball program.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Beyond deals, Smetters said the case has bearing on wider authorities.

Read more on Barron's

With the forward bearing down on goal in the dying stages, Young cynically hacked him down on the edge of the area, preventing a near-certain goal.

Read more on BBC

Inside lies a forgotten space—largely undisturbed for several decades—filled with cabinets bearing more than 400 drawers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• demeanor 
• manner