Definition
Bearing is the horizontal direction from one point to another, measured clockwise in degrees from a reference direction (usually north). In aviation, it most often expresses the direction from the aircraft to a navigation station, waypoint, or other point of interest.
Plain English
It's the compass direction from where you are to something else, given as a number of degrees from north.
Context Anchor
Seen on navigation displays, charts, radio navigation equipment, GPS pages, and position reports.
Derivation
From the old English 'bear,' meaning to carry or move toward. To 'bear north,' for example, meant to head in that direction. The navigation sense kept that idea: a bearing tells you which way something lies relative to a reference.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate bearings enable reliable navigation to waypoints, navigation aids, and airports, supporting course corrections and situational awareness.
Intuition Check
Bearing does not mean the airplane’s heading. Heading is where the nose is pointed; bearing is the direction to or from a selected point, measured from a stated reference.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot noted a bearing of 045° to the VOR and turned to intercept the inbound radial.
Example Sentence 2
We took a bearing on the VOR to confirm our position.