/ beə(r); NAmE ber/ verb , noun
■ verb
( bore / bɔː(r); NAmE / borne / bɔːn; NAmE bɔːrn/)
ACCEPT / DEAL WITH
1.
(used with can / could in negative sentences and questions) to be able to accept and deal with sth unpleasant
SYN stand :
[ vn ]
The pain was almost more than he could bear.
She couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
[ v -ing ]
I can't bear having cats in the house.
[ v to inf ]
How can you bear to eat that stuff?
[ v -ing , v to inf ]
He can't bear being laughed at.
He can't bear to be laughed at.
[also vn -ing ] ➡ note at hate
NOT BE SUITABLE
2.
not ~ sth / doing sth to not be suitable for sth :
[ vn ]
Her later work does not bear comparison with her earlier novels (= because it is not nearly as good) .
The plan won't bear close inspection (= it will be found to be unacceptable when carefully examined) .
[ v -ing ]
The joke doesn't bear repeating (= because it is not funny or may offend people) .
His sufferings don't bear thinking about (= because they are so terrible) .
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR STH
3.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to take responsibility for sth :
She bore the responsibility for most of the changes.
Do parents have to bear the whole cost of tuition fees?
You shouldn't have to bear the blame for other people's mistakes.
NEGATIVE FEELING
4.
bear sth (against / towards sb) | bear sb sth to have a feeling, especially a negative feeling :
[ vn ]
He bears no resentment towards them.
[ vnn ]
She bore him no ill will .
[ vn , vnn ]
He's borne a grudge against me ever since that day.
He's borne me a grudge ever since that day.
SUPPORT WEIGHT
5.
[ vn ] to support the weight of sb/sth :
The ice is too thin to bear your weight.
SHOW
6.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to show sth; to carry sth so that it can be seen :
The document bore her signature.
He was badly wounded in the war and still bears the scars.
She bears little resemblance to (= is not much like) her mother.
The title of the essay bore little relation to (= was not much connected with) the contents.
NAME
7.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to have a particular name :
a family that bore an ancient and honoured name
CARRY
8.
[ vn ] ( old-fashioned or formal ) to carry sb/sth, especially while moving :
three kings bearing gifts
YOURSELF
9.
[ vn ] bear yourself well, etc. ( formal ) to move, behave or act in a particular way :
He bears himself (= stands, walks, etc.) proudly, like a soldier.
She bore herself with dignity throughout the funeral.
CHILD
10.
( formal ) to give birth to a child :
[ vn ]
She was not able to bear children.
[ vnn ]
She had borne him six sons.
OF TREES / PLANTS
11.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to produce flowers or fruit
TURN
12.
[ v ] bear (to the) left, north, etc. to go or turn in the direction mentioned :
When you get to the fork in the road, bear right.
•
IDIOMS
- bear arms
- bear fruit
- bear hard, heavily, severely, etc. on sb
- be borne in on sb
- bring sth to bear (on sb/sth)
—more at brunt , cross noun , grin verb , mind noun , witness noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- bear down on sb/sth
- bear on sth
- bear sb/sth out
- bear up (against / under sth)
- bear with sb/sth
■ noun
1.
a heavy wild animal with thick fur and sharp claws (= pointed parts on the ends of its feet). There are many types of bear :
a black bear
—see also grizzly bear , polar bear , teddy bear
2.
( finance ) a person who sells shares in a company, etc., hoping to buy them back later at a lower price
—compare bull
—see also bearish
•
IDIOMS
- like a bear with a sore head
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb Old English beran , of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit bharati , Greek pherein , and Latin ferre .
noun Old English bera , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch beer and German Bär .