Bear n.
 1. Zool. Any species of the genus Ursus, and of the closely allied genera.  Bears are plantigrade Carnivora, but they live largely on fruit and insects.
 Note: The European brown bear (Ursus arctos), the white polar bear (Ursus maritimus), the grizzly bear (Ursus horribilis), the American black bear, and its variety the cinnamon bear (Ursus Americanus), the Syrian bear (Ursus Syriacus), and the sloth bear, are among the notable species.
 2. Zool. An animal which has some resemblance to a bear in form or habits, but no real affinity; as, the woolly bear; ant bear; water bear; sea bear.
 3. Astron. One of two constellations in the northern hemisphere, called respectively the Great Bear and the Lesser Bear, or Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
 4. Metaphorically: A brutal, coarse, or morose person.
 5. Stock Exchange A person who sells stocks or securities for future delivery in expectation of a fall in the market.
 Note: ☞ The bears and bulls of the Stock Exchange, whose interest it is, the one to depress, and the other to raise, stocks, are said to be so called in allusion to the bear's habit of pulling down, and the bull's of tossing up.
 6. Mach. A portable punching machine.
 7. Naut. A block covered with coarse matting; -- used to scour the deck.
 Australian bear. Zool. See Koala.
 Bear baiting, the sport of baiting bears with dogs.
 Bear caterpillar Zool., the hairy larva of a moth, esp. of the genus Euprepia.
 Bear garden. (a) A place where bears are kept for diversion or fighting. (b) Any place where riotous conduct is common or permitted. --M. Arnold.
 Bear leader, one who leads about a performing bear for money; hence, a facetious term for one who takes charge of a young man on his travels.
 Ursus arctos
      n : large ferocious bear of Eurasia [syn: brown bear, bruin]