rear
rear Lexical Profile
rear Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Located at, relating to, or forming the back part of something.
"Please enter the building through the rear entrance after business hours."
• noun
The back part of something, especially a building, vehicle, or military formation, as opposed to the front.
"Extra luggage was stored neatly at the rear of the bus."
A person's buttocks (used informally or euphemistically).
"He slipped on the icy sidewalk and landed squarely on his rear."
• verb
To bring up and care for a child until they are fully grown, or to breed and raise animals or crops.
"The farmers rear free-range sheep on the grassy hillsides."
To rise up on the hind legs (especially of a horse or other quadruped).
"Startled by the sudden thunder, the stallion reared up in fright."
To lift, raise, or hold up vertically, or to extend to a great height.
"Snow-capped mountains reared high above the quiet valley."
• Rhymes for rear
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
As a noun and adjective meaning 'back', 'rear' derives from Old French 'rere', ultimately from Latin 'retro' (backward, behind). As a verb meaning 'to raise' or 'bring up', it stems from an unrelated Old English root 'rǣran' (to raise, set up, establish), which is cognate with 'raise' and 'rise'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.