51Թ

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View synonyms for

rear

1

[reer]

noun

  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.



adjective

  1. pertaining to or situated at the rear of something.

    the rear door of a bus.

rear

2

[reer]

verb (used with object)

  1. to take care of and support up to maturity.

    to rear a child.

    Synonyms: ,
  2. to breed and raise (livestock).

  3. to raise by building; erect.

    Synonyms:
  4. to raise to an upright position.

    to rear a ladder.

  5. to lift or hold up; elevate; raise.

    Synonyms: , ,

verb (used without object)

  1. to rise on the hind legs, as a horse or other animal.

  2. (of a person) to start up in angry excitement, hot resentment, or the like (usually followed byup ).

  3. to rise high or tower aloft.

    The skyscraper rears high over the neighboring buildings.

rear

1

/ ɪə /

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. to be at the back in a procession, race, etc

  6. at the back

  7. (modifier) of or in the rear

    the rear legs

    the rear side

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rear

2

/ ɪə /

verb

  1. (tr) to care for and educate (children) until maturity; bring up; raise

  2. (tr) to breed (animals) or grow (plants)

  3. (tr) to place or lift (a ladder, etc) upright

  4. (tr) to erect (a monument, building, etc); put up

  5. (esp of horses) to lift the front legs in the air and stand nearly upright

  6. (intr; often foll by up or over) (esp of tall buildings) to rise high; tower

  7. (intr) to start with anger, resentment, etc

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Confusables Note

See raise.
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • unreared adjective
  • well-reared adjective
  • ˈ𲹰 noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of rear1

First recorded in 1590–1600; shortened variant of arrear

Origin of rear2

First recorded before 900; Middle English reren, ræren, reare, Old English ǣ “t raise ”; cognate with Gothic -raisjan, Old Norse reisa
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of rear1

C17: probably abstracted from rearward or rearguard

Origin of rear2

Old English ǣ ; related to Old High German ŧ to distribute, Old Norse reisa to raise
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Idioms and Phrases

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

    The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

  2. rear its (ugly) head. head.

In addition to the idioms beginning with rear, also see bring up the rear.
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Synonym Study

See back 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Upon the ship's return to Scotland in September, a gearbox and propeller fault were detected, and further investigation at Dale's Marine in Greenock revealed the rear of the ship was twisted.

From

She also used the money to start a vegetable garden and rear chicken and ducks, which she sold to other refugees, at a market.

From

The driver then exited and went to the rear of one of the agent’s vehicles and was taken into custody.

From

In attempting to exit the area, according to the complaint, Agent L.M. opened the rear passenger door of the Border Patrol vehicle where Gomez was seated.

From

Real life, in short, rears its ugly head.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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