bearing

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   relevant relation or interconnection

   those issues have no bearing on our situation

2. 2
   adj

   That bears (some specified thing).

   a gift-bearing visitor

3. 3
   adj

   Of a beam, column, or other device, carrying weight or load.

   That's a bearing wall.

4. 4
   noun

   The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and another object, or between it and that of true north; a heading or direction.

   This volume would have been at least twice as large, if I had not made bold to strike out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the several voyages, together with the minute descriptions of the management of the ship in storms, in the style of sailors; likewise the account of longitudes and latitudes; [...]

5. 5
   noun

   One's understanding of one's orientation or relative position, literally or figuratively.

   Do we go left here or straight on? Hold on, let me just get my bearings.

6. 6
   noun

   Relevance; a relationship or connection.

   That has no bearing on this issue.

7. 7
   noun

   One's posture, demeanor, or manner.

   She walks with a confident, self-assured bearing.

8. 8
   noun

   That part of any member of a building which rests upon its supports.

   A lintel or beam may have four inches of bearing upon the wall.

Etymology

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.