[syn: charge, bear down]
4. exert full strength;
- Example: "The pitcher bore down"
5. pay special attention to;
- Example: "The lectures bore down on the political background"
6. exert a force or cause a strain upon;
- Example: "This tax bears down on the lower middle class"
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
bear down
v 1: exert a force with a heavy weight; "The snow bore down on
the roof" [syn: drag down, bear down, bear down on,
press down on, weigh down]
2: contract the abdominal muscles during childbirth to ease
delivery [syn: bear down, overbear]
3: to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle; "he
saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork" [syn: charge,
bear down]
4: exert full strength; "The pitcher bore down"
5: pay special attention to; "The lectures bore down on the
political background"
6: exert a force or cause a strain upon; "This tax bears down on
the lower middle class"