Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The manner in which one carries or conducts oneself: synonym: behavior.
  • noun A machine or structural part that supports another part.
  • noun A device that supports, guides, and reduces the friction of motion between fixed and moving machine parts.
  • noun Something that supports weight.
  • noun The part of an arch or beam that rests on a support.
  • noun The act, power, or period of producing fruit or offspring.
  • noun The quantity produced; yield.
  • noun Direction, especially angular direction measured from one position to another using geographical or celestial reference lines.
  • noun Awareness of one's position or situation relative to one's surroundings.
  • noun Relevant relationship or interconnection.
  • noun Heraldry A charge or device on a field.
  • adjective Architecture Designed to support structural weight.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Supporting; sustaining: as, a bearing wall or partition (that is, a wall or partition supporting another).
  • Solid; substantial: as, “a good bearing dinner,”
  • noun Support, as of a principle or an action; maintenance; defense.
  • noun The act of enduring, especially of enduring patiently or without complaining; endurance.
  • noun The manner in which a person bears or comports himself; carriage; mien; behavior.
  • noun The mutual relation of the parts of a whole; mode of connection.
  • noun The special meaning or application of anything said or written.
  • noun The act or capability of producing or bringing forth: as, a tree past bearing.
  • noun In architecture, the space between the two fixed extremes of a beam or timber, or between one extreme and a supporter: that is, its unsupported span.
  • noun In machinery, the part in contact with which a journal moves; that part of a shaft or an axle which is in contact with its supports; in general, the part of any piece where it is supported, or the part of another piece on which it rests.
  • noun Same as bearing-note.
  • noun plural In ship-building, the widest part of a vessel below the plank-sheer; the line of flotation which is formed by the water on her sides when upright, with provisions, stores, etc., on board in proper trim.
  • noun In heraldry, any single charge of a coat of arms; any one of the ordinaries, or any heraldic bird, beast, or other figure (see charge); hence, in the plural, the whole heraldic display to which a person is entitled. See arm, 7.
  • noun The direction or point of the compass in which an object is seen, or the direction of one object from another, with reference to the points of the compass. In geology and mining, used in speaking either of the outcrop of the strata or of the direction of any metalliferous lode or deposit, whether under ground or at the surface: nearly synonymous with run, course, and strike.
  • noun That part of a construction which receives a superincumbent weight.
  • noun The act or condition of taking or supporting that weight: thus, the upper bed of a block or pier affords a bearing of so many square inches; or may be said not to give a good bearing, or to need an iron plate to provide a better bearing.
  • noun That part of a superincumbent mass which rests directly upon the supporting member: thus, a lintel has 6 inches' (or 48 square inches') bearing at either end.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The manner in which one bears or conducts one's self; mien; behavior; carriage.
  • noun Patient endurance; suffering without complaint.
  • noun The situation of one object, with respect to another, such situation being supposed to have a connection with the object, or influence upon it, or to be influenced by it; hence, relation; connection.
  • noun Purport; meaning; intended significance; aspect.
  • noun The act, power, or time of producing or giving birth.
  • noun That part of any member of a building which rests upon its supports.
  • noun The portion of a support on which anything rests.
  • noun Improperly, the unsupported span.
  • noun The part of an axle or shaft in contact with its support, collar, or boxing; the journal.
  • noun The part of the support on which a journal rests and rotates.
  • noun (Her.) Any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms -- commonly in the pl.
  • noun The situation of a distant object, with regard to a ship's position, as on the bow, on the lee quarter, etc.; the direction or point of the compass in which an object is seen.
  • noun The widest part of a vessel below the plank-sheer.
  • noun The line of flotation of a vessel when properly trimmed with cargo or ballast.
  • noun See under Ball.
  • noun to bring one to his senses.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • i have a clean 1996 rm 250 runs great just need to get rid of bike really dont want to but kinda gotta sell.bike only needs rear wheel bearing$ 25.00 at suzuki shops devol suspension brand new clutch plates bike needs rear wheal bearing wheel bearing is$ 25.00

    craigslist | for sale / wanted in seattle-tacoma webmaster@craigslist.org 2010

  • Mr. Valentino, who has retired from the label bearing his name, was celebrating the launch of the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum, an online series of exhibitions featuring his collections downloadable to anyone for free.

    Valentino's Modern Fashion Museum Ray A. Smith 2011

  • Such a great idea, in fact, that the rum in the bottle could easily be deemed secondary to the label bearing Ron Jeremy's visage on the bottle.

    Tony Sachs: The Latest In Liquor For Autumn: New Rums, Tequilas, Liqueurs & More Tony Sachs 2011

  • I learned what optical brightening agents “OBAs” were through the sad experience of buying some imported linen towels, in an off-white hue, that had a label bearing these words: “OBAs will affect shade.”

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • I learned what optical brightening agents “OBAs” were through the sad experience of buying some imported linen towels, in an off-white hue, that had a label bearing these words: “OBAs will affect shade.”

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • I learned what optical brightening agents “OBAs” were through the sad experience of buying some imported linen towels, in an off-white hue, that had a label bearing these words: “OBAs will affect shade.”

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • I learned what optical brightening agents “OBAs” were through the sad experience of buying some imported linen towels, in an off-white hue, that had a label bearing these words: “OBAs will affect shade.”

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • Such a great idea, in fact, that the rum in the bottle could easily be deemed secondary to the label bearing Ron Jeremy's visage on the bottle.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Tony Sachs 2011

  • When he returned from touring to support the record, he found in his mailbox an envelope from his label bearing a check for $385,000.

    Steve Miller Still Sings the Blues 2008

  • As he pours the wine, a Saint Emilion blend with a label bearing the Lasseter name, he explains how he and his wife Nancy began making wine.

    Lunch with John Lasseter in the FT | The Disney Blog 2009

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