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bear

Pronunciation: /bɛə/

The English word “bear” has 20 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous) of the family Ursidae; having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet.
  2. The meat of this animal.
  3. A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person.
  4. An investor who sells commodities, securities, or futures in anticipation of a fall in prices.
  5. A state policeman (short for Smokey Bear).
  6. A large, hairy man, especially one who is homosexual.
  7. A koala (bear).
  8. A portable punching machine.
  9. A block covered with coarse matting, used to scour the deck.
  10. The fifteenth Lenormand card.
  11. Something difficult or tiresome; a burden or chore.

verb

  1. To endeavour to depress the price of, or prices in.
  2. To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
  3. To carry (weapons, flags or symbols of rank, office, etc.) upon one's person, especially visibly; to be equipped with (weapons, etc.).
  4. To wear (garments, pieces of jewellery, etc.).
  5. To carry (offspring in the womb), to be pregnant (with).
  6. To have or display (a mark or other feature).
  7. To display (a particular heraldic device) on a shield or coat of arms; to be entitled to wear or use (a heraldic device) as a coat of arms.
  8. To present or exhibit (a particular outward appearance); to have (a certain look).

adjective

  1. Characterized by declining prices in securities markets or by belief that the prices will fall.

Etymology

From Middle English bere, from Old English bera, from Proto-West Germanic *berō, from Proto-Germanic *berô (“bear”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“brown”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian beer (“bear”), Saterland Frisian Boar, Boare (“bear”), West Frisian bear (“bear”), Cimbrian and Mòcheno per (“bear”), Dutch beer (“bear”), German Bär (“bear”), German Low German Boor (“bear”),…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.