Bearing

How to spell bearing

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce bearing

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does bearing mean?

1. nounThe way in which something relates to or influences a matter under consideration.
2. nounThe way a person stands, moves, or conducts themselves.
3. nounA mechanical part that supports a moving component and reduces friction as it turns.
4. nounThe direction or position of something relative to a fixed point, often measured in degrees.

Bearing in a sentence

• The witness statement had no bearing on the final verdict.

• The manager kept a calm and professional bearing throughout the crisis.

• The mechanic replaced a worn wheel bearing on the front axle.

• The pilot adjusted the aircraft's bearing to head due north.

• Her past salary has little bearing on the new role's pay.

• His upright bearing made him seem taller than he was.

Where does bearing come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

Bearing grows directly from the native Old English verb beran, which meant 'to carry, to bring forth, to endure', a word with deep roots stretching back through the Germanic family to an ancient Indo-European base meaning 'to carry'. The same verb gives us 'bear' the action, 'born' and 'borne', and even 'burden', all sharing the idea of something carried. The noun 'bearing' formed by adding the ordinary -ing ending to that verb, and over the centuries it branched into several practical meanings: the way a person carries themselves (their deportment), the direction in which something is carried or points (as in navigation), and the engineered part that 'bears' or supports a turning load. The phrase 'to have a bearing on' something keeps the old sense of carrying weight or relevance. Because the word is built so transparently from bear plus -ing, the spelling rarely surprises, though the 'ea' vowel cluster is the only thing to watch.

How the word is built

• bear (Old English beran: to carry)
• -ing (noun-forming suffix)