bear ‧ ing /ˈbeərɪŋ $ ˈber-/ BrE AmE noun
1 . have a/some/no etc bearing on something to have an effect or influence on something, or not have any effect or influence:
Exercise has a direct bearing on how healthy you are.
2 . lose your bearings
a) to become confused about where you are:
I completely lost my bearings in the dark.
b) to become confused about what you should do next:
young men who have lost their bearings in a changing society
3 . get/find your bearings
a) to find out exactly where you are:
He paused to get his bearings.
b) to feel confident that you know what you should do next:
An introduction session helps new students get their bearings.
4 . [singular, uncountable] the way in which you move, stand, or behave, especially when this shows your character
5 . [countable] technical a direction or angle that is shown by a ↑ compass :
learning to take a compass bearing
6 . [countable] technical a part of a machine that turns on another part, or in which a turning part is held ⇨ ↑ ball bearing