rear Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
rear1 definition

rear (rir)

noun

  1. the back or hind part of something
  2. the place or position behind or at the back at the rear of the house
  3. the part of a military or naval force farthest from the enemy
  4. ☆ Slang the buttocks

Etymology: prob. back-form. < rear(ward), rear (guard)

adjective

of, at, or in the rear a rear entrance
rear Idioms

bring up the rear

to come at the end, as of a procession; be last in order
rear2 definition

rear (rir)

transitive verb

  1. to put upright; elevate
  2. to build; erect
  3. to grow or breed (animals or plants)
  4. to bring up by educating, nurturing, training, etc.; raise to rear a child

Etymology: ME reren < OE ræran, caus. of risan, to rise

intransitive verb

  1. to rise or stand on the hind legs, as a horse
  2. to rise (up), as in anger
  3. to rise high, as a mountain peak

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms rear idiom

rear Synonyms

rear

n.

hind part, back, back seat, rear end, tail end, stern, posterior, rump, butt*; see also back 1, 2, rump.


rear

v.

  1. To raise upright

    lift, elevate, raise, hold up; see raise 1.

  2. To nurture

    bring up, raise, parent, care for; see raise 2, support 5. See syn. study at lift.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

rear Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • cottage: To the rear of the cottage a pathway leads to the large garden which extends to approximately 150 ' in depth.

Object

  • cub: The intention of Secret World is to eventually return any reared cubs back into the wild.

Noun used with modifier

  • offside: Night shift ripped the tire, I had to replace it ( offside rear ).

Modifies a noun

  • wheel: Brakes are disk and work on the rear wheels.

Preposition: in

  • captivity: By comparing results from the two studies the RSPCA hopes to understand more about the impact of seals being reared in captivity.
rear usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

rear quotes

You Americans donot rearchildren, you incite them; you give them food and shelter and applause.

-Jarrell, Randall

Johnson approached a strongly fortified position by outflanking it, or burrowing under it, or surprising the defenders from the rear, or raining down obstacles upon them from the sky, or starving them into submission† Rarely, and then only reluctantly, would he proceed directly from A to B, to him the shortest distance between two points was a tunnel.

-Manchester,William Raymond

rear quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"rear." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/rear>

APA Style

rear. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/rear

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment