Definition

1. Noun:
   • A young bear: A "bear cub" specifically refers to a juvenile bear, typically one that is still dependent on its mother. This term is used for the offspring of various bear species.

Usage

• The term "bear cub" is used as a countable noun to refer to a single young bear or multiple young bears ("bear cubs").
• It is a standard compound noun in zoology and general English to specify the age category of the bear.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The mother bear was followed closely by her playful bear cub.
  • We were lucky to see two bear cubs climbing a tree in the forest.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in wildlife contexts, stories, and descriptions to evoke an image of a small, young bear.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something or someone young, inexperienced, or endearing, though this is less common than the literal use.

Variants and Related Words

• Cub (noun): A more general term for the young of certain carnivorous mammals, such as lions, tigers, foxes, and bears. "Bear cub" is a specific application of this word.
• Yearling (noun): An animal in its second year of life. A bear cub may be called a yearling as it grows older but is not yet fully mature.

Synonyms

• Young bear: A direct descriptive synonym.
• Bear offspring: A more formal or biological term.

Notes

• "Bear cub" is a fixed compound noun. The word "cub" alone can be ambiguous without context, as it applies to other animals. Therefore, "bear" is specified to avoid confusion.
• There are no specific phrasal verbs or idioms that use the exact term "bear cub."

Noun

1. a young bear