Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A genus of plantigrade carnivorous mammals, the bears, of the family Ursidæ. It was formerly coextensive with the family, and was even applied to some animals not now included in Ursidæ. It is now restricted to such species as the brown bear of Europe, U. arctos, and the grizzly and black bears of North America, U. horribilis and U. americanus; for the polar bear, spectacled bear, sun-bear, and honey-bear (or sloth-bear) have been detached under the names of Thalassarctos, Tremarctos, Helarctos, and Melursus (or Prochilus) respectively. See bear (with cuts), and cuts under scapholunar and Plantigrada.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Zoöl.) A genus of Carnivora including the common bears.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun type genus of Ursidae: brown bears; in some classifications genus Ursus includes all bears

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Having hunted, professionally, all species of bear in Alaska, including polar bear, grizzly bear, giant ursus gyas on the Alaska Peninsula and black bear where-ever, I have a lot of respect for WILD BEARS but no respect for garbage bears nor for bear that think they can live in my backyard and control my life, destroy my proptery and endanger my family.

    Bear Trees Man In Alaska 2009

  • Having hunted, professionally, all species of bear in Alaska, including polar bear, grizzly bear, giant ursus gyas on the Alaska Peninsula and black bear where-ever, I have a lot of respect for WILD BEARS but no respect for garbage bears nor for bear that think they can live in my backyard and control my life, destroy my proptery and endanger my family.

    Bear Trees Man In Alaska 2009

  • Weirdly, Jon and I were talking about the etymology of the German word for bear this morning, and how it comes from the word for brown, instead of the latin root ursus or ursa.

    Making Light: Pretty rocks 2010

  • Your colleague rev ursus, what church accomodates views like his? but methinks he is a joker or maybe a black bear (ursus) o.u. October 1st, 2008 5: 09pm

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • I think this thread must be coming to and end very soon so why not recap the garbage that has been written here by the likes of "rev" ursus. ndm, bertie bert and other, smaybe then Laurie you will realise why I think they are so foolish -- Herbert T. writes with reason but he is few and far between - my best wishes for all our futures.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • May 16, 2008 at 6:07 pm ursus jus take a breath here

    Iz never dun dis befor - Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats - I Can Has Cheezburger? 2008

  • Now then, if you remember back to the Blast Door map that trapped Locke, you may recall this entry in the lower right-hand corner of the map: "Stated Goal: Repatriation accelerated de-territorialization of ursus maritimus polar bear through gene therapy and extreme climate change."

    LOSTCasts 67: The Shape of Things to Come 2008

  • Hominem te agnoscere nequeo, cum tanquam asinus recalcitres, lascivias ut taurus, hinnias ut equus post mulieres, ut ursus ventri indulgeas, quum rapias ut lupus, &c. at inquis formam hominis habeo, Id magis terret, quum feram humana specie videre me putem.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • I do but think, that when he comes to be lifted up to her celestial sphere, as her fellow constellation, what a figure Nancy and her ursus major will make together; and how will they glitter and shine to the wonder of all beholders!

    Pamela 2006

  • Readers who enjoyed the book as children, or in introducing it to their own children, can face the challenge of translating familiar episodes, such as the hunt for the heffalumpus, or Pooh's admission, "Quia ursus pusilli ingenii sum verba difficilia fastidio" ( "For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me").

    Books: Ancient Roadmap, Latin Revival, Mostly about Mummies 2000

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