bear
/bɛr/
noun
- A large, heavy mammal with thick fur and a short tail. Bears eat meat, fish, and plants.
- We saw a black bear in the forest near our campsite.
- The grizzly bear stood on its hind legs to get a better view.
- Bears hibernate during the winter to save energy.
- A person who is large, strong, or rough in manner.
- The coach was a big bear of a man, but he had a gentle heart.
- The bouncer at the club was a bear, but he was always polite.
- My uncle is a gentle bear who loves to garden.
- A person who expects the price of stocks to fall and sells them to make a profit.
- A bear market means stock prices are falling.
- The bear sold all his shares before the market dropped.
- Investors who are bears think the economy will slow down.
verb
- To carry or support something.
- The bridge can bear the weight of heavy trucks.
- The ice is too thin to bear your weight.
- She bore the tray of drinks to the table.
- To endure or tolerate something difficult or unpleasant.
- I can't bear the heat without air conditioning.
- She couldn't bear to see her friend cry.
- He bore the pain of his injury without complaining.
- To give birth to a child or young animal.
- Our cat bore a litter of five kittens last night.
- The queen bore three children during her reign.
- She bore a son in the spring of 1998.
- To produce or yield something, such as fruit or flowers.
- The apple tree bears fruit every autumn.
- This plant bears beautiful red flowers in June.
- The investment bore a good return after five years.
- To turn or go in a particular direction.
- Bear south for about two miles until you see the sign.
- Bear left at the fork in the road.
- The trail bears east after the lake.