n. 1
A mechanical device that supports another part or reduces friction.
n. 2
The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and another object, or between it and that of true north; a heading or direction.
n. 3
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.
adj. 1
That bears (some specified thing).

Related words

Phrases: relative bearing grease muffler bearing ball bearing armorial bearing needle bearing roller bearing bearing rein
Is a kind of: component part

Forms

Plural: bearings → presences, manners, mines, conducts…

Choose the right word

Bearing or Port?

Bearing is rather a lofty word; as, he has a noble bearing; port is practically identical in meaning with bearing, but is more exclusively a literary word.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

relation I don't see any relation between the two problems.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
bearing		falling
relation		falling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: air¹, aim¹, sum¹
4 letters: mine¹, port¹
5 letters: force¹, scope¹, drift¹, guise¹
6 letters: course¹, effect², charge¹, manner², aspect², import², charre
7 letters: meaning², conduct², heading², gesture², manners², posture², purport²
8 letters: position³, presence², behavior³, relation³, tendency³, carriage², yielding², demeanor³
9 letters: direction³, behaviour³, relevance³, endurance³, demeanour³
10 letters: connection³, appearance³, supporting³, deportment³
11 letters: inclination⁴, comportment³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (effect² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: coussinet
Italiano: cuscinetto