bears

Noun

bear (countable and uncountable, plural bears)

1. A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous) of the family Ursidae; having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet.
   1. (uncountable) The meat of this animal.
      • We had barbecued bear for dinner.
2. (figuratively) A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person.
   • One evening about this time, when his Lordship did me the honour to sup at my lodgings with Dr. Robertson and several other men of literary distinction, he regretted that Johnson had not been educated with more refinement, and lived more in polished society. 'No, no, my Lord, (said Signor Baretti,)...1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson

   Synonyms:

   troublemaker

3. An investor who sells commodities, securities, or futures in anticipation of a fall in prices.
   • This accompt has been made to appear a bull accompt, i.e. that the bulls cannot take their stock. The fact is the reverse; it is a bear accompt, but the bears, unable to deliver their stock, have conjointly banged the market, and pocketed the tickets, to defeat the rise and loss that would have...1821, Bank of England, The Bank - The Stock Exchange - The Bankers ..., page 64

   Antonyms:

   bull

4. (US, slang, CB radio) A state policeman (short for Smokey Bear).
   • By the time we got into Tulsa Town
     We had eighty-five trucks in all
     But there's a roadblock up on the cloverleaf
     And them bears was wall-to-wall.
     Yeah, them smokies is thick as bugs on a bumper
     They even had a bear in the air.
     I says, "Callin' all trucks, this here's the Duck.
     We about to go...1975, “Convoy”, in C.W. McCall, Chip Davis (lyrics), Black Bear Road, performed by C. W. McCall

   Synonyms:

   police officer

5. (slang) A large, hairy man, especially one who is homosexual.
   • Bears are usually hunky, chunky types reminiscent of railroad engineers and former football greats.[1979 July 26, George Mazzei, “Who's Who in the Zoo?: A Glossary of Gay Animals”, in Robert I. McQueen, editor, The Advocate, number 272, Liberation Publications, →ISSN, archived from the original on...

   Antonyms:

   twink

See all 54 meanings of bear