bear
/ˈbɛɹ/
verbnoun
Core
1.v.have
“bear a resemblance”
2.v.cause to be born
“My wife had twins yesterday!”
3.v.put up with something or somebody unpleasant
“I cannot bear his constant criticism”
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bear and contain share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. bear means “have”. contain means “include or contain; have as a component”. bear is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈbɛɹ/
1.v.have
“bear a resemblance”
2.v.cause to be born
“My wife had twins yesterday!”
3.v.put up with something or somebody unpleasant
“I cannot bear his constant criticism”
/kənˈteɪn/
1.v.include or contain; have as a component
“A totally new idea is comprised in this paper”
2.v.contain or hold; have within
“The jar carries wine”
3.v.lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
“moderate your alcohol intake”
| bear | contain | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛɹ/ | /kənˈteɪn/ |
| Said | ber | kuhn-TAYN |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 4 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | verb |
| Senses | 15 | 6 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | none recorded | incorporate, comprise |
Full entry for bear · Full entry for contain · More comparisons