01 n. The manner in which one bears or conducts one's self; mien; behavior; carriage.
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1.
The manner in which one bears or conducts one's self; mien; behavior; carriage.“I know him by his bearing.” — Shak.
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2.
Patient endurance; suffering without complaint.
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3.
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.“But of this frame, the bearings and the ties, The strong connections, nice dependencies.” — Pope.
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4.
Purport; meaning; intended significance; aspect.
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5.
The act, power, or time of producing or giving birth; as, a tree in full bearing; a tree past bearing.“[His mother] in travail of his bearing.” — R. of Gloucester.
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6.
That part of any member of a building which rests upon its supports; as, a lintel or beam may have four inches of bearing upon the wall.(Arch.)
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7.
The part of an axle or shaft in contact with its support, collar, or boxing; the journal.(Mach.)
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8.
Any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms -- commonly in the pl.(Her.)“A carriage covered with armorial bearings.” — Thackeray.
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9.
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; as, the bearing of the cape was W. N. W.(Naut.)
Phrases & compounds
Ball bearings —
See under Ball.
To bring one to his bearings —
to bring one to his senses.
To lose one's bearings —
to become bewildered.
To take bearings —
to ascertain by the compass the position of an object; to ascertain the relation of one object or place to another; to ascertain one's position by reference to landmarks or to the compass; hence (Fig.), to ascertain the condition of things when one is in trouble or perplexity.