bear off
C1 neutral separable both
In simple words
To steer a boat away from something, or to push it away from a landing spot.
Literal meaning: To bear (steer/push) something off and away from a point.
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
In sailing, to steer the vessel away from the wind or away from another object.
"Bear off a little — we're getting too close to the rocks."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 neutral
In backgammon, to remove one's pieces from the board after bringing them all to the home board, which is the final stage of the game.
"She was already bearing off her last three pieces when her opponent had barely entered the home board."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Primarily nautical. Also used in backgammon, where 'bearing off' means removing pieces from the board in the final stage of the game. Both uses are technical and context-specific.
Commonly used with
wind dock shore vessel pieces board
Forms
Base
bear off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bears off
he/she/it
Past simple
bore off
yesterday
Past participle
born/borne off
have + pp
-ing form
bearing off
continuous
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