rear

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
rear1

▶noun

• 1 the back or hindmost part of something.

• 2 (also rear end) informal a person's buttocks.

▶adjective at the back.

– phrases
bring up the rear

• 1 be at the very end of a queue.

• 2 come last in a race.

– origin ME from OFr. rere, based on L. retro ‘back’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
rear2

▶verb

• 1 bring up and care for (a child).

  ■ (of an animal) care for (young) until fully grown.

  ■ breed and raise (animals).

  ■ grow or cultivate (plants).

• 2 (of an animal) raise itself upright on its hind legs.

  ■ archaic set or lift upright.

• 3 (of a building, mountain, etc.) extend or appear to extend to a great height.

• 4 (rear up) show anger or irritation.

– derivatives
rearer noun.

– origin OE rǣran ‘set upright, construct, elevate’, of Gmc origin; rel. to raise and rise.