Big Bear

–adjective

1.	large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.

2.	of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem.

3.	outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success.

4.	important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field.

5.	grown-up; mature: big enough to know better.

6.	elder: my big sister.

7.	doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance: big go d31 vernment.

8.	consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry: Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.

9.	Informal. known or used widely; popular: Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.

10.	magnanimous; generous; kindly: big enough to forgive.

11.	boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty: a big talker.

12.	loud; orotund: a big voice.

13.	(of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted: a big shirt; the big look.

14.	(of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.

15.	filled; brimming: eyes big with tears.

16.	Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. pregnant.

17.	Obsolete. very strong; powerful.

–adverb

18.	Informal. boastfully; pretentiously: to act big; to talk big.

19.	Informal. with great success; successfully: to go over big.

–noun

20.	the bigs, Sports Slang. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.

—Idioms

21.	be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for: Mother is big on family get-togethers.

22.	big with child. great (def. 23).

–verb (used with object)

1.	to hold up; support: to bear the weight of the roof.

2.	to hold or remain firm under (a load): The roof will not bear the strain of his weight.

3.	to bring forth (young); give birth to: to bear a child.

4.	to produce by natural growth: a tree that bears fruit.

5.	to hold up under; be capable of: His claim doesn't bear close examination.

6.	to press or push against: The crowd was borne back by the police.

7.	to hold or carry (oneself, one's body, one's head, etc.): to bear oneself erectly.

8.	to conduct (oneself): to bear oneself bravely.

9.	to suffer; endure; undergo: to bear the blame.

10.	to sustain without yielding or suffering injury; tolerate (usually used in negative constructions, unless qualified): I can't bear your nagging. I can hardly bear to see her suffering so.

11.	to be fit for or worthy of: It doesn't bear repeating.

12.	to carry; bring: to bear gifts.

13.	to carry in the mind or heart: to bear love 2c1 ; to bear malice.

14.	to transmit or spread (gossip, tales, etc.).

15.	to render; afford; give: to bear witness; to bear testimony.

16.	to lead; guide; take: They bore him home.

17.	to have and be entitled to: to bear title.

18.	to exhibit; show: to bear a resemblance.

19.	to accept or have, as an obligation: to bear responsibility; to bear the cost.

20.	to stand in (a relation or ratio); have or show correlatively: the relation that price bears to profit.

21.	to possess, as a quality or characteristic; have in or on: to bear traces; to bear an inscription.

22.	to have and use; exercise: to bear authority; to bear sway.

–verb (used without object)

23.	to tend in a course or direction; move; go: to bear west; to bear left at the fork in the road.

24.	to be located or situated: The lighthouse bears due north.

25.	to bring forth young or fruit: Next year the tree will bear.

—Verb phrases

26.	bear down, a. to press or weigh down. b. to strive harder; intensify one's efforts: We can't hope to finish unless everyone bears down. c. Nautical. to approach from windward, as a ship: The cutter was bearing down the channel at twelve knots.

27.	bear down on or upon, a. to press or weigh down on. b. to strive toward. c. to approach something rapidly. d. Nautical. to approach (another vessel) from windward: The sloop bore down on us, narrowly missing our stern.

28.	bear off, a. Nautical. to keep (a boat) from touching or rubbing against a dock, another boat, etc. b. Nautical. to steer away. c. Backgammon. to remove the stones from the board after they are all home.

29.	bear on or upon, to affect, relate to, or have connection with; be relevant to: This information may bear on the case.

30.	bear out, to substantiate; confirm: The facts bear me out.

31.	bear up, to endure; face hardship bravely: It is inspiring to see them bearing up so well.

32.	bear with, to be patient or forbearing with: Please bear with me until I finish 1051 the story.

—Idiom

33.	bring to bear, to concentrate on with a specific purpose: Pressure was brought to bear on those with overdue accounts.