bear n
1. massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
2. an investor with a pessimistic market outlook; an investor who expects prices to fall and so sells now in order to buy later at a lower price [ant: bull] v
3. have; "bear a resemblance"; "bear a signature"
4. give birth (to a newborn); "My wife had twins yesterday!" [syn: give birth, deliver, birth, have]
5. put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage" [syn: digest, endure, stick out, stomach, stand, tolerate, support, brook, abide, suffer, put up]
6. move while holding up or supporting; "Bear gifts"; "bear a heavy load"; "bear news"; "bearing orders"
7. bring forth, "The apple tree bore delicious apples this year"; "The unidentified plant bore gorgeous flowers" [syn: turn out]
8. take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person; "I'll accept the charges"; "She agreed to bear the responsibility" [syn: take over, accept, assume]
9. contain or hold; have within; "The jar carries wine"; "The canteen holds fresh water"; "This can contains water" [syn: hold, carry, contain]
10. bring in; "interest-bearing accounts"; "How much does this savings certificate pay annually?" [syn: yield, pay]
11. have on one's person; "He wore a red ribbon"; "bear a scar" [syn: wear]
12. behave in a certain manner; "She carried herself well"; "he

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere. Bears are found in the continents of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Common characteristics of modern bears include a large body with stocky legs, a long snout, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and a short tail. While the polar bear is mostly carnivorous and the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining six species are omnivorous, with largely varied diets including both plants and animals.

• Police shoot, kill black bear in Easton - Allentown Morning Call
  Easton police say they had no choice but to shoot and kill a black bear as it roamed near the Easton Area Public Library early Sunday and headed toward a residential area of the city. After several scattered reports of sightings through the ... Read more on this news related to 'Bear'
• Hedge Funds Rebuild Euro Bear Bets on Greek Exit Banks Weigh - Bloomberg
  The euro has weathered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, bailouts of Greece, Ireland and Portugal, and falling interest rates. Now, investors are betting like never before that a Greek exit would be too much to keep the 17 ... Read more on this news related to 'Bear'
• Police shoot, kill bear in Pa. town - msnbc.com
  EASTON, Pa. (AP) — Officers shot and killed a black bear they said was roaming around the downtown area of the Pennsylvania town of Easton. Police Capt. Scott Casterline says the officers unsuccessfully tried several times to tranquilize the bear early ... Read more on this news related to 'Bear'