rear

Universal Words noun, adjective, verb noun 1 (usually the rear) [sing.] the back part of sth: A trailer was attached to the rear of the truck. * There are toilets at both front and rear of the plane. * A high gate blocks the only entrance to the rear. -< BACK 2 (also rear end) [C,usually sing.] (informal) the part of the body that you sit on SYNBOTTOM: a kick in the rear * He spends all day sitting on his rear end in front of a computer. IDIOMS bring up the rear to be at the back of a line of people, or last in a race: David was the first to reach the summit, followed by Pat, leaving Fergus to bring up the rear. adjective [onlybeforenoun] at or near the back of sth: front and rear windows * the rear entrance of the building verb 1 [VN] [oftenpassive] ~ sb/sth (on sth) to care for young children or animals until they are fully grown SYNBRINGSBUP, RAISE: She reared a family of five on her own. * Lions usually manage to rear about half the number of cubs born to them. 2 [VN] to breed or keep animals or birds, for example on a farm: to rear poultry / cattle 3 [V] ~ (up) (of an animal, especially a horse) to raise itself on its back legs, with the front legs in the air: The horse reared, throwing its rider. 4 [V] (of sth large) to seem to lean over you, especially in a threatening way: The great bulk of the building reared up against the night sky. IDIOMS sth rears its (ugly) head if sth unpleasant rears its head or rears its ugly head, it appears or happens PHRASALVERBS rear sb/sth on sth [usuallypassive] to give a person or an animal a particular type of food, entertainment, etc. while they are young: I was the son of sailors and reared on stories of the sea.