- a person or thing that carries, upholds, or brings: dozens of bearers on the safari.
- the person who presents an order for money or goods: Pay to the bearer.
- a tree or plant that yields fruit or flowers.
- the holder of rank or office; incumbent.
- (especially in India) a native boy or man employed as a personal or household servant.
- furniture(def 4).
- one of several strips of metal fitted at the sides of a plate for support during inking and proving.
- a joistlike member supporting the floorboards of a scaffold.
- Furniture. bearing rail.
Origin of bearer
Related Words for bearershipper, emissary, courier, runner, envoy, agent, servant, carrier, messenger, transporter, porter, conveyor, internuncio, beneficiary, collector, consignee, payee, drogher
Examples from the Web for bearer
Contemporary Examples of bearer
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but here at Royalist towers we think not.William's New Baby Hint
April 12, 2014
In about 12 minutes the gun carriage and bearer party and escort party, led by a band of the Royal Marines, will lead off.Live Blogging Thatcher’s London Funeral
April 17, 2013
How would people in the audience have known that here was a bearer of friendly fire, not an accomplice in the massacre?For Obama, Romney, and America, Gun Control Is Dead
July 24, 2012
Not to be the bearer of ill tidings, Herman, but you are close to the last person in America still wondering this.Was Herman Cain’s High-Risk Campaign Fueled by Testosterone?
November 30, 2011
Getting yelled at for being the bearer of bad news—or even non-news—is not uncommon.Confessions of a Flight Attendant
August 11, 2010
Historical Examples of bearer
The bearer, if suspected and examined, is to produce that as the only one he carries.Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
"I am the bearer of bad news, gentlemen," he said, addressing them both.The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
Some victories are only to be won with arms that hurt the bearer.Roden's Corner
Henry Seton Merriman
I immediately determined to follow the bearer of this letter.Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
The bearer of this gift is entitled to claim any boon from Isabella.Gomez Arias
Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
- a person or thing that bears, presents, or upholds
- a person who presents a note or bill for payment
- (formerly, in Africa, India, etc)
- a native carrier, esp on an expedition
- a native servant
- See pallbearer
- the holder of a rank, position, office, etc
- (modifier) finance payable to the person in possessionbearer bonds
Word Origin and History for bearer
Old English -berere (in water-berere), agent noun from bear (v.). Meaning "one who helps carry a corpse to the grave" is from 1630s.