bearing
♦ bear|ing /b'eərɪŋ/ (bearings)
1 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something has a bearing on a situation or event, it is relevant to it.
Experts generally agree that diet has an important bearing on your general health...
My father's achievements really don't have any bearing on what I do.
= influence
2 [N-SING] usu poss N
Someone's bearing is the way in which they move or stand. (LITERARY)
She later wrote warmly of his bearing and behaviour.
3 [N-COUNT]
If you take a bearing with a compass, you use it to work out the direction in which a particular place lies or in which something is moving.
= reading
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you get your bearings or find your bearings, you find out where you are or what you should do next. If you lose your bearings, you do not know where you are or what you should do next.
A sightseeing tour of the city is included to help you get your bearings...
5 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Bearings are small metal balls that are placed between moving parts of a machine in order to make them move smoothly and easily over each other.
An oil seal was replaced, along with both front wheel bearings.
see also ball bearingball bear|ing (ball bearings)
also ball-bearing
[N-COUNT]
Ball bearings are small metal balls placed between the moving parts of a machine to make the parts move smoothly.
1 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something has a bearing on a situation or event, it is relevant to it.
Experts generally agree that diet has an important bearing on your general health...
My father's achievements really don't have any bearing on what I do.
= influence
2 [N-SING] usu poss N
Someone's bearing is the way in which they move or stand. (LITERARY)
She later wrote warmly of his bearing and behaviour.
3 [N-COUNT]
If you take a bearing with a compass, you use it to work out the direction in which a particular place lies or in which something is moving.
= reading
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you get your bearings or find your bearings, you find out where you are or what you should do next. If you lose your bearings, you do not know where you are or what you should do next.
A sightseeing tour of the city is included to help you get your bearings...
5 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Bearings are small metal balls that are placed between moving parts of a machine in order to make them move smoothly and easily over each other.
An oil seal was replaced, along with both front wheel bearings.
see also ball bearingball bear|ing (ball bearings)
also ball-bearing
[N-COUNT]
Ball bearings are small metal balls placed between the moving parts of a machine to make the parts move smoothly.