noun | verb
bearbear1 /bɛr/ ●●● S3 W2 noun [countable] 1
a large strong animal with thick fur that eats flesh, fruit, and insects: a mother bear and her cubs → see also polar bear, teddy bear2informal something that is very difficult to do or to deal with: The chemistry test was a real bear.3informal a big man who behaves in a rough way or is in a bad mood4social studies, economics someone who sells shares or goods when the price is expected to fall noun | verb
bearbear2 ●●○ verb (past tense bore /bɔr/, past participle borne /bɔrn/) [transitive] 1BE RESPONSIBLE FOR formal to be responsible for or accept something: bear the cost/burden/expense etc. The company responsible for the oil spill should bear the expense of cleaning it up.bear responsibility/the blame/the burden etc. UN agencies will bear the burden of resettling the refugees.2DEAL WITH something to bravely accept or deal with a painful, difficult, or upsetting situation SYN stand: He bore the pain stoically. They had borne untold suffering and hardship. He wrote that he could hardly bear to be separated from her. Make the water as hot as you can bear. His job requires long hours, and their marriage was unable to bear the strain (=continue despite having to deal with difficult problems).3bear a resemblance/relation etc. to somebody/something to be similar to or related to someone or something else: Ed bore little resemblance to the man she had described. The final script bore absolutely no relation to the one I’d originally written. The blaze bears several parallels to a previous fire last month.4bear (something) in mind to remember a fact or piece of information that is important or could be useful in the future SYN keep (something) in mind: Thanks, I’ll bear that in mind.bear in mind (that) Tourists must bear in mind that they are visitors in another country.5somebody can’t bear somebody/something a)to be so upset about something that you feel unable to accept it or let it happen SYN can’t stand: I can’t bear violence toward another human being. I couldn’t bear the thought of having to start all over.can’t bear to do something She was the kind of person who just couldn’t bear to throw anything away. b)to feel strong dislike for someone or something that annoys or upsets you: I really can’t bear him.can’t bear doing something I can’t bear swimming in cold water.6SIGN/MARK formal to have or show a sign, mark, or particular appearance SYN have: The stone marker bears the names of those killed in the riot. Staff members wear T-shirts bearing the company’s logo. He had the disease as a child and still bears its scars.7SUPPORT to be under something and support it SYN hold: The ice wasn’t thick enough to bear his weight. An oak table bore several photographs of the family.8bear fruit a)if a plan, decision, etc. bears fruit, it is successful, especially after a long period of time: The project may not begin to bear fruit for at least two years. b)if a tree bears fruit, it produces fruit9bear right/left to turn toward the right or left: Bear left where the road divides. The road bears to the right.10BABY formal to give birth to a baby: Jean will never be able to bear children.bear somebody a son/daughter/child She bore him five children.11BE AFFECTED BY something to show physical or emotional signs of something that has happened to you: He would bear the scars of his experience for the rest of his life (=it will always affect him).12CARRY literary to carry someone or something, especially something important SYN carry: Several of the guests arrived bearing gifts. the right to bear arms (=carry a gun)13WIND/WATER/AIR literary if wind, water, or air bears something, it carries it somewhere: The seeds are borne long distances by the wind.14bear (somebody) a grudge to continue to feel annoyed about something that someone did a long time ago: The suspect appears to have borne a grudge against his former colleagues.15bring influence/pressure etc. to bear (on) to use your influence or power to get what you want: More pressure is being brought to bear on the country to improve its human rights record.16bear witness to something formal to show that something is true or exists: Her latest book bears witness to her talent as a writer.17something doesn’t bear thinking about used to say that something is so upsetting or shocking that you prefer not to think about it: The reaction I’ll get when my parents find out doesn’t even bear thinking about.18ABLE TO BE EXAMINED/COMPARED ETC. [often in negatives] to be appropriate or good enough to be tested, compared, repeated, etc. without failing or being wrong: We suspect that their statistics will not bear close inspection. It is advice that bears repeating. His TV shows always bear watching (=are always good to watch).19NAME/TITLE formal to have a particular name: She bears the title of “executive director.”20bear interest if a bank account, investment, etc. bears interest, the bank pays you a particular amount of money for keeping your money in the account21bear yourself formal to walk, stand, etc. in a particular way, especially when this shows your character: Throughout the trial, she bore herself with great dignity.22bear somebody no malice/ill will etc. formal to not feel angry toward someone[Origin: Old English beran] → see also bear the brunt at brunt, grin and bear it at grin1 (2)bear down on somebody/something phrasal verb1a)to behave in a threatening way toward a person or group: Federal regulators have been bearing down on campaign contributors. b)to move quickly toward a person or place in a threatening way: Sweeney tried to leap over the car when it bore down on him. A strong Pacific storm system is bearing down on the West Coast.2to use all your strength and effort to push or press down on somethingbear on/upon something phrasal verb formal to relate to and possibly influence something: Luckily, the error didn’t bear on the outcome of the game.bear somebody/something out phrasal verb if facts or information bear out a claim, story, opinion, etc., they help to prove that it is true: Silberman said more people are carrying pistols, and gun sales bear him out.bear up phrasal verb to show courage or determination during a difficult or upsetting time: People who have hope bear up better in bad circumstances.bear with somebody/something phrasal verb1bear with me spoken used to ask someone politely to wait while you find out information, finish what you are doing, etc.: Bear with me for a minute while I check our records.2bear with something to be patient or continue to do something that is difficult or not fun: It’s boring at first, but bear with it because it gets better.