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bearing (n.)

mid-13c., "a carrying of oneself, deportment," verbal noun from bear (v.). Meaning "direction or point of the compass in which an object is seen or is moving" is from 1630s; to take (one's) bearings is from 1711. Mechanical sense of "part of a machine that 'bears' the friction" is from 1791.

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Definitions of bearing from WordNet
1
bearing (n.)
relevant relation or interconnection;
those issues have no bearing on our situation
bearing (n.)
the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies;
Synonyms: heading / aim
bearing (n.)
dignified manner or conduct;
Synonyms: comportment / presence / mien
bearing (n.)
characteristic way of bearing one's body;
Synonyms: carriage / posture
bearing (n.)
heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield;
Synonyms: charge / heraldic bearing / armorial bearing
bearing (n.)
a rotating support placed between moving parts to allow them to move easily;
2
bearing (adj.)
(of a structural member) withstanding a weight or strain;
From wordnet.princeton.edu