Definition: rear

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

rear
     adj : located in or toward the back or rear; the chair's rear
           legs"; "the rear door of the plane"; "on the rearward
           side" [syn: rear, rearward]
     n 1: the back of a military formation or procession; "infantrymen
          were in the rear" [ant: head]
     2: the side of an object that is opposite its front; "his room
        was toward the rear of the hotel" [syn: backside, back
        end] [ant: front]
     3: the part of something that is furthest from the normal
        viewer: "he stood at the back of the stage"; "it was
        hidden in the rear of the store" [syn: back] [ant: front]
     4: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on [syn: buttocks,
         nates, arse, butt, backside, bum, buns, can,
         fundament, hindquarters, hind end, keister, posterior,
         prat, rear end, rump, stern, seat, tail, tail
        end, tooshie, tush, bottom, behind, derriere, fanny,
         ass]
     5: the side that goes last or is not normally seen; "he wrote
        the date on the back of the photograph" [syn: back]
        [ant: front]
     v 1: as of quadrupeds [syn: rise up]
     2: bring up; "raise a family"; "bring up children" [syn: raise,
         bring up, nurture, parent]
     3: rise up; "The building rose before them" [syn: rise, lift]
     4: cause to rise up [syn: erect]
     5: construct, build, or erect; "Raise a barn" [syn: raise, erect,
         set up, put up] [ant: level]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rear \Rear\, a.
   Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear
   rank of a company.

   Rear admiral, an officer in the navy, next in rank below a
      vice admiral, and above a commodore. See Admiral.

   Rear front (Mil.), the rear rank of a body of troops when
      faced about and standing in that position.

   Rear guard (Mil.), the division of an army that marches in
      the rear of the main body to protect it; -- used also
      figuratively.

   Rear line (Mil.), the line in the rear of an army.

   Rear rank (Mil.), the rank or line of a body of troops
      which is in the rear, or last in order.

   Rear sight (Firearms), the sight nearest the breech.

   To bring up the rear, to come last or behind.

Rear \Rear\, adv.
   Early; soon. [Prov. Eng.]

         Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear! --Gay.

Rear \Rear\, n. [OF. riere behind, backward, fr. L. retro. Cf.
   Arrear.]
   1. The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last
      on order; -- opposed to front.

            Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes
      last, or is stationed behind the rest.

            When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear.
                                                  --Milton.

Rear \Rear\, v. i.
   To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse; to become erect.

   Rearing bit, a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting
      his head when rearing. --Knight.

Rear \Rear\, v. t.
   To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. [R.]

Rear \Rear\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reared; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Rearing.] [AS. r[=ae]ran to raise, rear, elevate, for
   r[=ae]san, causative of r[=i]san to rise. See Rise, and cf.
   Raise.]
   1. To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect,
      etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith.

            In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared
            me.                                   --Milton.

            It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts. --Barrow.

            Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
                                                  --Ld. Lytton.

   2. To erect by building; to set up; to construct; as, to rear
      defenses or houses; to rear one government on the ruins of
      another.

            One reared a font of stone.           --Tennyson.

   3. To lift and take up. [Obs. or R.]

            And having her from Trompart lightly reared, Upon
            his set the lovely load.              --Spenser.

   4. To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to
      instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring.

            He wants a father to protect his youth, And rear him
            up to virtue.                         --Southern.

   5. To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle.

   6. To rouse; to strip up. [Obs.]

            And seeks the tusky boar to rear.     --Dryden.

   Syn: To lift; elevate; erect; raise, build; establish. See
        the Note under Raise, 3
      (c) .

REAR, n.  In American military matters, that exposed part of the army
that is nearest to Congress.