bear

2
[ bair ]
/ bɛər /

noun, plural bears, (especially collectively) bear.

adjective

having to do with or marked by declining prices, as of stocks: bear market.

verb (used with object), beared, bear·ing.

Stock Exchange. to force prices down in (a market, stock, etc.).

Idioms for bear

    loaded for bear, Informal. fully prepared and eager to initiate or deal with a fight, confrontation, or trouble: Keep away from the boss—he's loaded for bear today.

Origin of bear

2
before 1000; Middle English be(a)re, beor(e), Old English bera; cognate with Frisian bār, Dutch beer, Old High German bero (German Bär); < Germanic *beran- literally, the brown one; akin to Old Norse bjǫrn, bersi; compare Lithuanian bė́ras brown. Cf. bruin

OTHER WORDS FROM bear

bear·like, adjective

Words nearby bear

beanie, beano, beanpole, beanshooter, beanstalk, bear, bear a grudge, bear animalcule, bear claw, bear down, bear fruit

British Dictionary definitions for loaded for bear (1 of 3)

Bear
/ (bɛə) /

noun the Bear

the English name for Ursa Major, Ursa Minor
an informal name for Russia

British Dictionary definitions for loaded for bear (2 of 3)

bear 1
/ (bɛə) /

verb bears, bearing, bore or borne (mainly tr)

See also bear down, bear off, bear on, bear out, bear up, bear with, born

Word Origin for bear

Old English beran; related to Old Norse bera, Old High German beran to carry, Latin ferre, Greek pherein to bear, Sanskrit bharati he carries

British Dictionary definitions for loaded for bear (3 of 3)

bear 2
/ (bɛə) /

noun plural bears or bear

any plantigrade mammal of the family Ursidae : order Carnivora (carnivores). Bears are typically massive omnivorous animals with a large head, a long shaggy coat, and strong claws See also black bear, brown bear, polar bear Related adjective: ursine
any of various bearlike animals, such as the koala and the ant bear
a clumsy, churlish, or ill-mannered person
a teddy bear
stock exchange
  1. a speculator who sells in anticipation of falling prices to make a profit on repurchase
  2. (as modifier)a bear market Compare bull 1 (def. 5)

verb bears, bearing or beared

(tr) to lower or attempt to lower the price or prices of (a stock market or a security) by speculative selling

Word Origin for bear

Old English bera; related to Old Norse bjorn, Old High German bero

Idioms and Phrases with loaded for bear (1 of 2)

loaded for bear

Fully prepared for action; also, spoiling for a fight. For example, Bill tackled his new sales route loaded for bear, or When Martin was three hours late, his wife was loaded for bear. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to the heavy charge of powder or lead that hunters use for large animals like a bear.

Idioms and Phrases with loaded for bear (2 of 2)

bear