bear [ ber ](pastbore [ bawr ], past participleborne [ bawrn ] or born [ bawrn ], present participlebear·ing, 3rd person present singularbears)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb tolerate: to be able to endure something without great distress or annoyance
(
used in questions and negative statements
)
I can't bear this heat.
2. transitive verb support something: to hold or support a weight or something heavy
3. transitive and intransitive verb be fit for something: to withstand being subjected to a particular action Will her theories bear scrutiny?
4. transitive verb merit something: to be worthy of an action bear further investigation
5. transitive verb accept something as responsibility: to accept something as a duty or responsibility bear the expense
6. transitive verb be characterized by something: to have something as a quality, characteristic, or permanent attribute bears no relation to reality
7. transitive verb be marked by something: to show physical signs of something bears a likeness to his uncle
8. transitive verb carry something: to hold or support and transport somebody or something The spores are borne on the wind.
9. transitive verb produce something: to yield something by a natural process, or produce something desirable or valuable the tree that bore fruit
10. transitive verb give birth to child: to give birth to a child or young
11. transitive verb think something: to hold a particular thought, feeling, or idea in the mind I bore him no ill will.
12. intransitive verb head in particular direction: to move or turn in a particular direction Bear right when the road divides.
13. transitive verb behave in particular way: to conduct or carry yourself in a particular way bore himself well
14. transitive verb transmit something: to hold something in mind and communicate it to others
(
formal
)
I will bear your message.
[ Old English beran< Indo-European]
bring something to bear (on something) to use something to force a desired outcome
Word History
The prehistoric Germanic word from which bear is derived is also the ancestor of English barrow1, berth, bier, birth, and burden1. Its Indo-European ancestor is in turn the source of English amphora, fertile, and suffer.
