/bear/ , n.
1. an alcoholic beverage made by brewing and fermentation from cereals, usually malted barley, and flavored with hops and the like for a slightly bitter taste.
2. any of various beverages, whether alcoholic or not, made from roots, molasses or sugar, yeast, etc.: root beer; ginger beer.
3. an individual serving of beer; a glass, can, or bottle of beer: We'll have three beers.
[ bef. 1000; ME bere, OE beor; c. OS, OHG bior, MLG, MD ber, D, G Bier (ON bjorr, prob. ]