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) .

Source : WordNet®

rear
     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; "he
        deserves a good kick in the butt"; "are you going to sit
        on your fanny and do nothing?" [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}]

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(a)}, {rearward(a)}]

rear
     v 1: stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds; "The horse reared
          in terror" [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}]