bear

34 entries found for bear. The first 10 are listed below.
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bear[1,noun] bear[2,verb] Bear bear claw bear down bear grass bear-hug bear hug bear market bear out

Main Entry: ¹bear
Pronunciation: 'ber
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural bears
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English bere, from Old English bera; akin to Old English brun brown -- more at BROWN
1 or pl bear : any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora) of large heavy mammals of America and Eurasia that have long shaggy hair, rudimentary tails, and plantigrade feet and feed largely on fruit, plant matter, and insects as well as on flesh
2 : a surly, uncouth, burly, or shambling person <a tall, friendly bear of a man>
3 [probably from the proverb about selling the bearskin before catching the bear] : one that sells securities or commodities in expectation of a price decline -- compare BULL
4 : something difficult to do or deal with <the oven is a bear to clean>
- bear·like /-"lIk/ adjective