I. ˈri(ə)r, -iə verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English reren, from Old English rǣran; akin to Old High German rēren to cause to fall, Old Norse reisa to raise, Gothic ur raisjan to arouse, raise, lift up; causative from the root of Old English rīsan to rise — more at rise
transitive verb
1.
a. : to erect by building : construct
reared a huge pagan temple
b. obsolete : to bring into being : produce , originate
2.
a.
(1) : to lift up to an erect position : set up on end : raise upright
reared a flagpole in front of the building
rearing heavy marble columns
(2) : to lift upward especially so as to hold aloft or so as to cause to project far upward : elevate , raise
a castle that rears its towers into the sky
b. dialect chiefly England
(1) : to rouse from bed or sleep
(2) : to drive (game) from cover
c. dialect chiefly England : to stir up to action : arouse
3.
a.
(1) : to breed and raise (an animal) for use or market
(2) : to bring up (a person) by fostering, nourishing, and instructing
was reared in a fine family
b. : to cause (as plants, produce) to grow
4. : to cause (a horse) to rise up on the hind legs
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to rise up to an erect position : rise high : tower
a steeple rearing far into the sky
b. of a horse : to rise up on the hind legs
2. dialect : to come into sight : appear
Synonyms: see build , lift
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English reren, of unknown origin
obsolete : to slice up (as a roasted fowl) : carve
III. ˈri(ə)r, -iə
dialect
variant of rare I
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from rear (in such terms as rear guard )
1. : the back part of something : hindmost part: as
a. : the unit (as of an army) or area farthest from the enemy
b. : the part of something that is located opposite to its front
the rear of a store
the rear of a house
the rear of a bookcase
c. : buttocks
got kicked in the rear
2. : the space or position behind or at the back
moved to the rear
V. adjective
: being at the back or in the hindmost part : hindmost
the rear rank of a company
VI. adverb
: toward or from the rear — used chiefly in combination
a rear -driven car