rearing

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rear¹ /rɪr/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the back of something, as distinguished from the front.
2. the space or position at the back of something:
   [uncountable] Move to the rear of the bus.
3. [countable] the buttocks;
   rump.

adj. [before a noun]

4. relating to or located at the rear:
   a rear door.

Idioms

5. Idioms bring up the rear, to be at the end;
   follow behind.

Synonyms

See back.

rear² /rɪr/   v. 

1. to take care of and support (a young person) up to the age of maturity:
   [~ + object] to rear a child.
2. to lift upward, esp. so as to hold up high:
   [~ + object] The snake reared its head.
3. Animal Behavior to rise on the hind legs:
   [no object] The horse reared (up) and threw off its rider.
4. to rise high:
   [no object] The huge skyscrapers reared over me.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rear¹  (rēr), n. 

1. the back of something, as distinguished from the front:
   The porch is at the rear of the house.
2. the space or position behind something:
   The bus driver asked the passengers to move to the rear.
3. the buttocks;
   rump.
4. the hindmost portion of an army, fleet, etc.
5. bring up the rear, to be at the end;
   follow behind:
   The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

adj. 

6. pertaining to or situated at the rear of something:
   the rear door of a bus.

• aphetic variant of arrear 1590–1600

Synonyms

• 6. See back ¹.

rear²  (rēr), v.t. 

1. to take care of and support up to maturity:
   to rear a child.
2. Animal Husbandry to breed and raise (livestock).
3. to raise by building;
   erect.
4. to raise to an upright position:
   to rear a ladder.
5. to lift or hold up;
   elevate;
   raise.

v.i. 

6. Zoology, Animal Behavior to rise on the hind legs, as a horse or other animal.
7. (of a person) to start up in angry excitement, hot resentment, or the like (usually fol. by up).
8. to rise high or tower aloft:
   The skyscraper rears high over the neighboring buildings.

• bef. 900; Middle English reren, Old English rǣran to raise; cognate with Gothic -raisjan, Old Norse reisa

Synonyms

• 1. nurture, raise.
• 3. construct.
• 5. loft.

Usage

1. See raise. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rear / rɪə/ noun

1. the back or hind part
2. the area or position that lies at the back: a garden at the rear of the house
3. the section of a military force or procession farthest from the front
4. the buttocks
   See buttock
5. bring up the rear ⇒ to be at the back in a procession, race, etc
6. in the rear ⇒ at the back
7. (modifier) of or in the rear: the rear legs, the rear side

Etymology: 17th Century: probably abstracted from rearward or rearguard

rear / rɪə/ verb

1. (transitive) to care for and educate (children) until maturity; bring up; raise
2. (transitive) to breed (animals) or grow (plants)
3. (transitive) to place or lift (a ladder, etc) upright
4. (transitive) to erect (a monument, building, etc); put up
5. (intransitive) often followed by up: (esp of horses) to lift the front legs in the air and stand nearly upright
6. (intr; often followed by up or over) (esp of tall buildings) to rise high; tower
7. (intransitive) to start with anger, resentment, etc

Etymology: Old English rǣran; related to Old High German rēren to distribute, Old Norse reisa to raise

ˈrearer noun