/ rɪə(r); NAmE rɪr/ noun , adjective , verb
■ noun
1.
(usually the rear ) [ sing. ] the back part of sth :
A trailer was attached to the rear of the truck.
There are toilets at both front and rear of the plane.
A high gate blocks the only entrance to the rear .
➡ note at back
2.
(also ˌrear ˈend ) [ C , usually sing. ] ( informal ) the part of the body that you sit on
SYN bottom :
a kick in the rear
•
IDIOMS
- bring up the rear
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] at or near the back of sth :
front and rear windows
the rear entrance of the building
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to care for young children or animals until they are fully grown
SYN bring sb up , raise :
She reared a family of five on her own.
2.
[ vn ] to breed or keep animals or birds, for example on a farm :
to rear cattle
3.
[ v ] rear (up) ( of an animal, especially a horse ) to raise itself on its back legs, with the front legs in the air :
The horse reared, throwing its rider.
4.
[ v ] ( of sth large ) to seem to lean over you, especially in a threatening way :
The great bulk of the building reared up against the night sky.
•
IDIOMS
- sth rears its (ugly) head
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- rear sb/sth on sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun and adjective Middle English (first used as a military term): from Old French rere , based on Latin retro back.
verb Old English rǣran set upright, construct, elevate , of Germanic origin; related to raise (which has supplanted rear in many applications), also to rise .