Reading Theme:
Bear: Verb Meanings & Animal – Examples & Usage (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：to endure (bear)
bear
/bɛr/
v.
To accept and deal with something difficult or unpleasant without complaining.
to endure
➕
/tuː ɪnˈdjʊr/
v.
To suffer through pain, hardship, or annoyance without giving up.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'beran' (to carry, bring). Root 'ber-' meaning 'to carry'.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine a bear carrying a heavy burden on its back – that's 'bearing' something.
📖 Example
After the surgery, she had to bear a lot of pain during the recovery process.
After the surgery, she had to bear a lot of pain during the recovery process.
🔗 Collocations
bear the pain – to endure physical or emotional pain
bear the burden – to carry a heavy responsibility or load
bear responsibility – to accept and handle the duty or blame
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
bearable (adj.) – able to be endured
unbearable (adj.) – too painful or difficult to endure
bearer (n.) – a person who carries or holds something
📖 Cultural Story
Verb 'bear' shares root with Latin 'ferre' (to carry). In English, it evolved to mean 'to endure' and 'to give birth', both metaphors of carrying.
Meaning 2：to give birth to (bear)
bear
/bɛr/
v.
A formal word meaning to give birth to a baby.
to give birth to
➕
/tuː ɡɪv bɜːrθ tuː/
v.
To bring a baby into the world; to give birth.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
She decided to bear her child in a hospital that offered excellent postnatal care.
She decided to bear her child in a hospital that offered excellent postnatal care.
🔗 Collocations
bear a child – to give birth to a baby
bear offspring – to produce young
bear young – to give birth to offspring (for animals)
🔄 Synonyms
give birth to (v.) – to bring a baby out of the body
deliver (v.) – to assist in the birth of a baby
produce (v.) – to bring forth offspring
🚫 Antonyms
miscarry (v.) – to lose a baby before it is born
🌱 Derivatives
childbearing (n.) – the process of giving birth to children
bearer (n.) – a person who carries a child in pregnancy
Meaning 3：a large furry mammal (bear)
bear
/bɛr/
v.
A large, strong animal with thick fur, such as a brown bear or a panda.
a large furry mammal
➕
/ə lɑːrdʒ ˈfɜːri ˈmæməl/
v.
A large, powerful mammal with a thick coat, often found in forests and mountains.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
We were lucky to see a wild brown bear catching fish in the river during our forest hike.
We were lucky to see a wild brown bear catching fish in the river during our forest hike.
🔗 Collocations
polar bear – a large white bear living in the Arctic
grizzly bear – a large brown bear found in North America
bear cub – a young bear
🔄 Synonyms
bruin (n.) – a poetic or old-fashioned term for a bear, especially a brown bear
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