rear

¹

[reer]

noun

1. the back of something, as distinguished from the front.

   The porch is at the rear of the house.

2. the space or position behind something.

   The bus driver asked the passengers to move to the rear.

3. the buttocks; rump.

4. the hindmost portion of an army, fleet, etc.

adjective

1. pertaining to or situated at the rear of something.

   the rear door of a bus.

rear

²

[reer]

verb (used with object)

1. to take care of and support up to maturity.

   to rear a child.

   Synonyms: raise, nurture

2. to breed and raise (livestock).

3. to raise by building; erect.

   Synonyms: construct

4. to raise to an upright position.

   to rear a ladder.

5. to lift or hold up; elevate; raise.

   Synonyms: lift, lift, hoist

verb (used without object)

1. to rise on the hind legs, as a horse or other animal.

2. (of a person) to start up in angry excitement, hot resentment, or the like (usually followed byup ).

3. to rise high or tower aloft.

   The skyscraper rears high over the neighboring buildings.

rear

¹

/ rɪə /

noun

1. the back or hind part

2. the area or position that lies at the back

   a garden at the rear of the house

3. the section of a military force or procession farthest from the front

4. the buttocks See buttock

5. to be at the back in a procession, race, etc

6. at the back

7. (modifier) of or in the rear

   the rear legs

   the rear side

rear

²

/ rɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to care for and educate (children) until maturity; bring up; raise

2. (tr) to breed (animals) or grow (plants)

3. (tr) to place or lift (a ladder, etc) upright

4. (tr) to erect (a monument, building, etc); put up

5. (esp of horses) to lift the front legs in the air and stand nearly upright

6. (intr; often foll by up or over) (esp of tall buildings) to rise high; tower

7. (intr) to start with anger, resentment, etc

Confusables Note

See raise.

Other Word Forms

• rearer noun
• unreared adjective
• well-reared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rear¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; shortened variant of arrear

Origin of rear²

First recorded before 900; Middle English reren, ræren, reare, Old English rǣran “to raise ”; cognate with Gothic -raisjan, Old Norse reisa

Word History and Origins

Origin of rear¹

C17: probably abstracted from _rearward or _rearguard

Origin of rear²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bring up the rear, to be at the end; follow behind.

   The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

2. rear its (ugly) head. head.

More idioms and phrases containing rear

• bring up the rear

Synonym Study

See back ¹.

Example Sentences

Russell ended the session parked on the grass beside the track before the Roggia chicane as a result of a power loss, which left him stuck in seventh gear with the rear wheels locked.

From BBC

In the UK, all learners must have L plates at the front and rear of their vehicle - so other road users know they are inexperienced.

From BBC

The beetles rear and feed their young under the bark of spruce trees in complex webs of interweaving tunnels called galleries.

From BBC

Awoken by the flames, they managed to escape by covering themselves in wet blankets and running in the dark towards an exit at the rear.

From BBC

Investigators determined that the cause of the blaze was arson and that the front and rear doors of the restaurant were open.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• back 
• back door 
• back end 
• backside 
• bottom 
• butt 
• rear end 
• tail