rear

1
[ reer ]
/ rɪər /

noun

the back of something, as distinguished from the front: The porch is at the rear of the house.
the space or position behind something: The bus driver asked the passengers to move to the rear.
the buttocks; rump.
the hindmost portion of an army, fleet, etc.

adjective

pertaining to or situated at the rear of something: the rear door of a bus.

Idioms for rear

    bring up the rear, to be at the end; follow behind: The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

Origin of rear

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; aphetic variant of arrear

synonym study for rear

5. See back1.

Definition for rear (2 of 2)

rear 2
[ reer ]
/ rɪər /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of rear

2
before 900; Middle English reren, Old English rǣran to raise; cognate with Gothic -raisjan, Old Norse reisa

usage note for rear

1. See raise.

OTHER WORDS FROM rear

un·reared, adjective well-reared, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for rear

British Dictionary definitions for rear (1 of 2)

rear 1
/ (rɪə) /

noun

Word Origin for rear

C17: probably abstracted from rearward or rearguard

British Dictionary definitions for rear (2 of 2)

rear 2
/ (rɪə) /

verb

Derived forms of rear

rearer, noun

Word Origin for rear

Old English rǣran; related to Old High German rēren to distribute, Old Norse reisa to raise

Idioms and Phrases with rear

rear