bear
I
 /ˈbeɚ/  noun  ,  pl   bear  or   bears [  count  ]
  1 : any one of a group of large and heavy animals that have thick hair and sharp claws and that can stand on two legs like a person
   a mother bear and her cubs
  — sometimes used figuratively to describe a large man
   a tall, friendly bear of a man
   My father can be a grumpy old bear when he's tired.
  ◇ In informal British English, a person who becomes angry or annoyed very easily is (like) a bear with a sore head.
   My father can be like a bear with a sore head when he's tired.
  see also black bear, grizzly bear, polar bear, teddy bear
  2 finance : a person who expects the price of stocks to go down and who sells them to avoid losing money
   The bears outnumbered the bulls on Wall Street today.
  — compare bull, 1, — see also bear market
  3 US, informal : something that is difficult to do or deal with
   This oven is a bear to clean. [=this oven is very hard to clean]
  loaded for bear — see loaded
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II
  verb  , bears, bore /ˈboɚ/, borne /ˈboɚn/, bear·ing
  1 : to accept or endure (something)
   [  + obj  ] He bore [=tolerated] their insults patiently.
    — usually used in questions and negative statements with can, can't, could, and couldn't
    He could hardly bear [=stand] the pain.
    I can't bear cold weather. [=I strongly dislike cold weather]
    I couldn't bear the suspense.
    I can't bear it if/when people behave like that!
    I can't bear doing this. = I can't bear to do this.
    How can you bear to see him again after the way he's treated you?
    I couldn't bear you to get the wrong idea.
    I couldn't bear his behavior. = His behavior was more than I could bear.
    I couldn't bear the thought/idea of moving again.
   
   [  no obj  ] (US)
    — + for
    I couldn't bear for you to get the wrong idea.
   
  2 [  + obj  ] : to be worthy of (something) : to deserve or allow (something)
   a joke too silly to bear repeating [=a joke that is too silly to be worth repeating]
   It's so horrible it doesn't bear thinking about! [=it's so horrible that I don't want to think about it]
   a symphony that can bear comparison with Beethoven's best
   a plan that will not bear [=withstand] close scrutiny/examination
   suspicious behavior that bears watching [=that should be watched]
  3 [  + obj  ] : to assume or accept (something, such as cost or responsibility)
   The company agreed to bear the costs/expenses.
   The criminals must bear full responsibility for the deaths of these innocent people.
   Who will bear the blame for this tragedy?
  4 [  + obj  ] somewhat formal + literary : to move while holding up and supporting (something) : carry
   The demonstrators bore banners and sang songs.
   They arrived bearing gifts.
   The leaves were borne aloft/away by the wind.
   disease-bearing germs [=germs that carry and spread diseases]
   germ-borne diseases [=diseases that are carried and spread by germs]
   He believes that citizens should have the right to bear arms. [=to carry weapons]
  ◇ If something is borne in on/upon you, it is made very clear to you. This is a formal phrase.
   It was borne in on us by the new evidence that prompt action was very important. [=the new evidence strongly indicated that prompt action was very important]
  5 [  + obj  ]
  5 a : to have (something) as a feature or characteristic
   His leg was badly injured in the accident and it still bears [=shows] the scars/wounds/marks.
   His face bears marks/signs of suffering.
   Your conclusion bears [=has] no relation to the evidence.
   She bore a resemblance to her aunt. [=she looked like her aunt]
  5 b : to have a surface on which something is written, drawn, etc.
   The cornerstone bears a Latin inscription.
   a letter bearing the date of 1900
   a shield bearing strange symbols
  5 c : to have (a name, price, etc.)
   He bore the name (of) John.
   The store sells imported goods bearing [=having, with] high prices.
  5 d : to have or hold (a feeling) in the mind
   She still bears a grudge against him. = She still bears him a grudge.
   She says she bears him no resentment for the way he treated her.
   I can't deny the love I still bear [=feel] for her.
  6 [  + obj  ]
  6 a formal : to give birth to (a child)
   She has borne three children.
   She has borne her husband three children.
  6 b : to produce (something)
   a bank account that bears interest = an interest-bearing bank account
   a bush that bears red flowers
   trees that bear fruit
  — see also BEAR FRUIT ((BELOW))
  7 [  + obj  ] : to support the weight of (something)
   How much weight is that wall able to bear?
  8 [  no obj  ] : to go, move, or turn in a specified direction
   Bear south.
   The road bears (to the) right.
   When you get to the fork in the road, you should bear [=turn] left.
  Do not confuse bear with bare.
  bear down [  phrasal verb  ]
     US   : to use all of your strength and effort to do something : to try very hard to do something
    The pitcher bore down and struck out the last batter.
    If we're going to finish on time, we really have to bear down.
  bear down on [  phrasal verb  ]
   1 bear down on (something) : to push or lean down on (something)
    The old man bore down heavily on his cane.
    She bore down hard on her pencil.
   2 bear down on (someone) : to place pressure on (someone)
    Don't let your problems bear down too hard on you. [=don't let your problems weigh you down]
   3 bear down on (someone or something) : to approach or move toward (something or someone) quickly and in a frightening or impressive way
    The enemy battleship bore down on us.
  bear fruit
   : to produce a desired result or reward
    All his plans have finally borne fruit. [=all his plans have finally been realized]
    — see also bear 6b (above), 2
  bear in mind — see mind, 1
  bear on [  phrasal verb  ]
   bear on (something) formal
   1 : to have an effect on (something)
    Personal feelings did not bear on our decision. [=did not affect or influence our decision]
   2 : to apply or relate to (something)
    What are the facts bearing directly on this matter?
  bear out [  phrasal verb  ]
   bear out (something or someone) or bear (something or someone) out : to show the correctness of (something or someone)
    The facts bore out [=confirmed] her story. [=the facts showed that her story was true]
    Research has fully borne him out. [=has shown that he was completely correct]
  bear up [  phrasal verb  ]
   : to not be overwhelmed during a time of trouble, pain, etc.
    She's been going through a tough time, but she's bearing up pretty well.
    — often + under
    She has found it hard to bear up under the strain.
   
  bear with [  phrasal verb  ]
   bear with (someone) : to be patient with (someone)
    I'll have that information for you soon. Just bear with me for another minute or two.
  bear witness — see witness, 1
  bear yourself
    formal   : to move, stand, or behave in a specified way
    The soldier bore himself [=carried himself] stiffly upright.
    The soldier never failed to bear himself [=conduct himself, behave] courageously on the battlefield.
    He always bore himself [=behaved] like a gentleman.
  bring (something) to bear
   : to cause (something) to have an effect or influence
    The company's new president brings 30 years of experience to bear.
    If we hope to resolve these issues, more resources must be brought to bear.
    — often used with on
    They will bring their considerable skills/talent/experience/knowledge to bear on the problem.
    The demonstrators will continue to bring pressure to bear on the government.
   
  cross to bear — see cross, 1
  grin and bear it — see grin