bearing
BEH-uh-rihng
Bearing (noun) means a mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction between surfaces. Example: “The mechanic said a worn bearing was causing the grinding noise in the fan.”
noun
1
A mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction between surfaces.
"The mechanic said a worn bearing was causing the grinding noise in the fan."
"Oil keeps the bearing inside the engine turning smoothly."
"The wheel bearing needed replacing after the squeaking got worse."
2
A direction or angle measured relative to true north, used to describe position or heading.
"The captain read the bearing from the compass and steered towards the island."
"The ship changed its bearing to avoid the storm."
"He took a compass bearing to find his way back to camp."
3
A person's posture, manner, or general demeanour.
"The old general's proud bearing made everyone in the room stand up straighter."
"Years of dance training gave him an elegant bearing."
"She carried herself with a calm, confident bearing."
4
Relevance or connection to a matter.
"Your age has no bearing on whether you can apply for the course."
"The weather had little bearing on our decision to go."
"His comments have no bearing on the final decision."
How to use bearing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: a mechanical part, a compass direction, someone's manner, or relevance to a topic.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "lose one's bearings" (become disoriented) with simply "get lost" — the idiom implies losing your sense of direction or context more broadly.
Common pairings
take a bearing
lose one's bearings
have no bearing on
ball bearing
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Word forms
- Plural
- bearings
Fill the gap
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The mechanic said a worn _____ was causing the grinding noise in the fan.
Etymology
From Middle English bering, formed from bear + -ing, originally meaning "carrying" or "producing (fruit)."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bearing
See all rhymes for bearing →Frequently asked questions
What does “bearing” mean?
The word “bearing” means a mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction between surfaces. In plain terms, depending on context: a mechanical part, a compass direction, someone's manner, or relevance to a topic.
How do you pronounce “bearing”?
“Bearing” is pronounced BEH-uh-rihng (/ˈbɛɹɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bearing” in a sentence?
Here is “bearing” used in a sentence: “The wheel bearing needed replacing after the squeaking got worse.”
What part of speech is “bearing”?
“Bearing” is a noun.
Where does the word “bearing” come from?
The word “bearing” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bering, formed from bear + -ing, originally meaning "carrying" or "producing (fruit).".
Is “bearing” a common word?
“Bearing” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bearing” have?
“Bearing” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction between surfaces.
What is the difference between a "bearing" and a "heading"?
In navigation, a bearing is the angle to a specific point measured relative to north, while a heading is the direction in which a vehicle or vessel is actually pointing. You take a bearing to a landmark; you steer on a heading.
What is the difference between a "ball bearing" and a "bearing"?
A "bearing" is any mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction, while a "ball bearing" is a specific type that uses small rolling balls to do this. A ball bearing is one kind of bearing.
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