Meaning

present participle and gerund of bear.

Definitions by Sense

1. present participle and gerund of bear
2. (in combination) That bears (some specified thing).
3. Of a beam, column, or other device, carrying weight or load.
4. (mechanical engineering) A mechanical device that supports another part or reduces friction.
5. (navigation, nautical) The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and another object, or between it and that of true north; a heading or direction.
6. (in the plural, especially in phrases such as 'get one's bearings') One's understanding of one's orientation or relative position, literally or figuratively.
7. Relevance; a relationship or connection.
8. One's posture, demeanor, or manner.

Example Sentences

a gift-bearing visitor

That's a bearing wall.

This volume would have been at least twice as large, if I had not made bold to strike out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the several voyages, together with the minute descriptions of the management of the ship in storms, in the style of sailors; likewise the account of longitudes and latitudes; [...]

Do we go left here or straight on? Hold on, let me just get my bearings.

I started a new job last week, and I still haven't quite found my bearings.

That has no bearing on this issue.

But of this frame, the bearings and the ties, / The strong connections, nice dependencies.

She walks with a confident, self-assured bearing.

Word Forms

• bearings

Synonyms for bearing

Related Words

When Should You Use Bearing?

Use bearing when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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