- 1[uncountable] bearing on something the way in which something is related to something or influences it Recent events had no bearing on our decision. Regular exercise has a direct bearing on fitness and health. Her comments didn’t have much bearing on the subject. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedirect, important, significant, … verb + bearinghave prepositionbearing on phraseshave little bearing on something, have no bearing on something See full entry
- 2[singular] the way in which you stand, walk or behave Her whole bearing was alert. a man of upright, military bearing
- 3[countable] (specialist) a direction measured from a fixed point using a compass They took compass bearings on the tower. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecompass verb + bearingcheck, find, gain, … phrasestake a (compass) bearing on something See full entry
- 4[countable] (specialist) a part of a machine that supports a moving part, especially one that is turning see also ball bearing See related entries: How machines work Extra examples He checked his bearings on the map in the car. He took a moment to regain his bearings. Keeping your bearings in a sandstorm is impossible. She lost her bearings in the thick forest. Take a compass bearing on that mountain. The rise in interest rates had a direct bearing on the company’s profits. To keep your bearings in a desert sandstorm is impossible. You are describing ideal conditions that have little bearing on the real world. The accuracy of bearings is within 4 to 5 degrees. The log records the ship’s bearings, wind direction and speed. You’ll learn how to take your bearings with a compass.Idioms
to make yourself familiar with your surroundings in order to find out where you are or to feel comfortable in a place He paused at the top of the hill, trying to get his bearings.
to become lost or confused
Check pronunciation: bearing
