noun
bearing
BEH-uh-rihng
noun
1
A mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction between surfaces.
"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 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.
"She carried herself with a calm, confident bearing."
4
Relevance or connection to a matter.
"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
Word Forms
bearings plural
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The wheel _____ needed replacing after the squeaking got worse.
Etymology
From Middle English bering, formed from bear + -ing, originally meaning "carrying" or "producing (fruit)."