rear

[ reer ]

/ rɪər /

noun

the back of something, as distinguished from the front: The porch is at the rear of the house.

the space or position behind something: The bus driver asked the passengers to move to the rear.

the buttocks; rump.

the hindmost portion of an army, fleet, etc.

adjective

pertaining to or situated at the rear of something: the rear door of a bus.

Words nearby rear

reappoint, reapportion, reapportionment, reappraisal, reappraise, rear, rear adm., rear admiral, rear deck, rear echelon, rear end

Idioms for rear

bring up the rear, to be at the end; follow behind: The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

Origin of rear

First recorded in 1590–1600; aphetic variant of arrear

synonym study for rear

5. See back¹.

Definition for rears (2 of 2)

rear²

[ reer ]

/ rɪər /

verb (used with object)

to take care of and support up to maturity: to rear a child.

to breed and raise (livestock).

to raise by building; erect.

to raise to an upright position: to rear a ladder.

to lift or hold up; elevate; raise.

verb (used without object)

to rise on the hind legs, as a horse or other animal.

(of a person) to start up in angry excitement, hot resentment, or the like (usually followed by up).

to rise high or tower aloft: The skyscraper rears high over the neighboring buildings.

Origin of rear

before 900; Middle English reren, Old English rǣran to raise; cognate with Gothic -raisjan, Old Norse reisa

SYNONYMS FOR rear

1 nurture, raise.

3 construct.

5 loft.

OTHER WORDS FROM rear

un·reared, adjectivewell-reared, adjective

usage note for rear

1. See raise.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rears

The rears of planes are becoming hell with smaller, harder seats to jam as many passengers in as possible.
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room|Clive Irving|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The message that we must send is that racism, in all of its forms, must be fought every time it rears its dangerous head.
Violence Erupts When You Tolerate Antisemitism|Dr. Charles Asher Small|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It rears itself up like a great cliff, and its base is never without wreaths and flowers swathing it.
The Children's Book of London|Geraldine Edith Mitton
It rears its ideal edifice on truth itself—on the solid and deep foundations of nature.
The Bride of Messina|Friedrich Schiller

"He supports himself by his tail when he rears on his hind legs to cut down a tree," answered Raven Wing.
Hawk Eye|David Cory
The Thrush lays four or five eggs, and rears several broods in the season, building a new nest for each brood.
British Birds in their Haunts|Rev. C. A. Johns
A picnic party is organized to ascend a mountain that rears its lofty head above the plain that lies at its feet.
Sidelights on Chinese Life|J. Macgowan

British Dictionary definitions for rears (1 of 2)

rear¹

/ (rɪə) /

noun

the back or hind part

the area or position that lies at the backa garden at the rear of the house

the section of a military force or procession farthest from the front

the buttocksSee buttock

bring up the rear to be at the back in a procession, race, etc

in the rear at the back

(modifier) of or in the rearthe rear legs; the rear side

Word Origin for rear

C17: probably abstracted from rearward or rearguard

British Dictionary definitions for rears (2 of 2)

rear²

/ (rɪə) /

verb

(tr) to care for and educate (children) until maturity; bring up; raise

(tr) to breed (animals) or grow (plants)

(tr) to place or lift (a ladder, etc) upright

(tr) to erect (a monument, building, etc); put up

(intr often foll by up) (esp of horses) to lift the front legs in the air and stand nearly upright

(intr ; often foll by up or over) (esp of tall buildings) to rise high; tower

(intr) to start with anger, resentment, etc

Derived forms of rear

rearer, noun

Word Origin for rear

Old English rǣran; related to Old High German rēren to distribute, Old Norse reisa to raise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with rears

rear

In addition to the idioms beginning with rear

rear end
rear its ugly head

also see:

bring up the rear

rear

noun

adjective

Content related to rear

Words related to rear

Words nearby rear

Idioms for rear

Origin of rear

synonym study for rear

Definition for rears (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of rear

SYNONYMS FOR rear

OTHER WORDS FROM rear

usage note for rear

Examples from the Web for rears

British Dictionary definitions for rears (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for rear

British Dictionary definitions for rears (2 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of rear

Word Origin for rear

Idioms and Phrases with rears