bearing

[ bair-ing ]

noun

1. the manner in which one conducts or carries oneself, including posture and gestures:

   a man of dignified bearing.

   Synonyms: conduct, behavior, demeanor, mien, carriage

2. the act, capability, or period of producing or bringing forth:

   a tree past bearing.

3. something that is produced; a crop.
4. the act of enduring or capacity to endure.
5. reference or relation (usually followed by on ):

   It has some bearing on the problem.

   Synonyms: application, dependency, connection

6. Architecture.
   1. a supporting part of a structure.
   2. the area of contact between a bearing member, as a beam, and a pier, wall, or other underlying support.
7. Machinery. the support and guide for a rotating, oscillating, or sliding shaft, pivot, or wheel.
8. Often bearings. direction or relative position:

   The pilot radioed his bearings.

   Synonyms: aim, course

9. Surveying. a horizontal direction expressed in degrees east or west of a true or magnetic north or south direction.
10. Heraldry. any single device on an escutcheon; charge.

bearing

/ ˈbɛərɪŋ /

noun

1. a support, guide, or locating piece for a rotating or reciprocating mechanical part
2. foll byon or upon relevance (to)

   it has no bearing on this problem

3. a person's general social conduct, esp in manners, dress, and behaviour
4. 1. the act, period, or capability of producing fruit or young
   2. an amount produced; yield
5. the part of a beam or lintel that rests on a support
6. anything that carries weight or acts as a support
7. the angular direction of a line, point, or course measured from true north or south ( true bearing ), magnetic north or south ( magnetic bearing ), or one's own position
8. usually plural the position or direction, as of a ship, fixed with reference to two or more known points
9. usually plural a sense of one's relative position or situation; orientation (esp in the phrases lose , get , or take one's bearings )
10. heraldry
    1. a device or emblem on a heraldic shield; charge
    2. another name for coat of arms

Other Words From

• un·bearing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bearing¹

First recorded in 1200–50, bearing is from the Middle English word beryng. See bear ¹, -ing ¹

Synonym Study

See manner ¹.

Example Sentences

Qualities such as competence or experience have no bearing whatsoever.

From Slate

The meltdown is continuing and will do so until morale improves—which could be as soon as January, when Donald Trump takes office and begins bearing the brunt of everyone in the United States being mad about everything.

From Slate

They were trying to check under the floor to see if that section would be able to hold the lens while it was off its bearing when they found the bottle.

From BBC

The engineers had travelled to the 209-year-old lighthouse ahead of a year long project to check the bearing the five tonne lens rotates on.

From BBC

To fully harness the emotional might that Jackson seemed to possess, Jones said he transformed the recording studio into a concert stage by dimming the lights and urging Jackson to dance while he recorded, as if an entire audience were bearing witness.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• demeanor
• manner