REAR


Meaning of REAR in English

/ 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 .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.