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

Long processions of women, many of them bearing a takli or spindle to honour Gandhi's commitment to homespun khadi cloth, take over Bombay's streets, quite literally pushing men to the very margins.

Read more on BBC

It's worth bearing in mind, however, that these calculations only show the impact of the Budget measures.

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It is “not a value judgement about the importance of programs ... It has no bearing on whether a program is professional in nature or not.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Blind cricket is played with a white plastic ball packed with ball bearings that rattle as it rolls -- which allows it to be heard by players.

Read more on Barron's

Poorer countries have repeatedly called for greater support, arguing they are facing the worst impacts of climate change despite bearing relatively little responsibility for rising temperatures.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• demeanor 
• manner