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REFERENCE

bearing

n. · adj.
US //ˈbɛɹɪŋ// UK //bˈeəɹɪŋ// bear·ing
  1. 1 relevance or connection (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the way that one thing affects or relates to another.

    the relevance, relationship, or influence of one thing upon another; often used with the preposition 'on'.

    Example

    The new evidence had a direct bearing on the outcome of the trial.

    Example

    The judge ruled that the witness's personal history had no direct bearing on the legal facts of the case at hand.

    Usage

    Commonly appears in the phrase 'have a bearing on'.
    • irrelevance
  2. 2 direction or orientation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    your position or direction, often compared to north or a specific place.

    the horizontal angle between the direction of an object and a reference point, such as true north.

    Example

    The hiker checked his compass to get a bearing before entering the thick forest.

    Example

    The navigator took a fresh bearing on the lighthouse to ensure the ship remained clear of the submerged reef.
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  1. 3 one's position or situation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    your understanding of where you are or what you should do next.

    one's sense of orientation or relative position, whether in a physical or metaphorical context.

    Example

    After the confusing meeting, it took me a moment to get my bearings.

    Example

    New employees often spend their first week simply trying to find their bearings within the company's complex hierarchy.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the plural form 'bearings' in this sense.
  2. 4 manner or posture (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    the way a person stands, moves, or behaves.

    a person's way of standing or moving; their outward demeanour or manner.

    Example

    The soldier's upright bearing made him stand out in the crowd.

    Example

    Despite the intense pressure of the press conference, the prime minister maintained a calm and professional bearing.
  3. 5 mechanical part (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a part in a machine that supports a moving piece and reduces friction.

    a machine element that constrains relative motion to only the desired motion and reduces friction between moving parts.

    Example

    The bicycle wheel stopped spinning smoothly because the bearings were worn out.

    Example

    The engineer specified high-grade steel bearings to ensure the turbine could operate at high speeds without overheating.
  4. 6 carrying weight (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    describing a wall or beam that supports the weight of a building.

    supporting or carrying a physical load or weight.

    Example

    You cannot remove that wall because it is a load-bearing structure.

    Example

    The architect reinforced the central bearing columns to account for the additional weight of the new roof garden.

    Usage

    Frequently used in the compound 'load-bearing'.
Etymology 1

From Middle English beringe, berynge, berende, berande, berand, from Old English berende (“bearing; fruitful”) (also as synonym Old English bǣrende), from Proto-Germanic berandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic beraną (“to bear; carry”), equivalent to bear + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English bering, beringe, berynge, equivalent to bear + -ing.

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