Definition
Bearing
A bearing is a direction measured clockwise in degrees from north at the starting point.
What it means
Stand at the starting point and face north. Turn clockwise until you face the destination. The angle you turned is the bearing. Add leading zeros, so a turn of 5° is written 005°.
Remember it
North first, clockwise turn, three digits.
Example
A lighthouse is directly east of a boat. Turning clockwise from north to east is 90°, so the lighthouse’s bearing from the boat is 090°.
Watch for
A bearing depends on the starting point: the bearing of B from A is generally different from the bearing of A from B.
Common mix-up
Do not start from east or turn anticlockwise. A three-figure bearing starts at north and is measured clockwise.
Exact meaning
A bearing is a direction given by the clockwise angle in degrees from north at the starting point, usually written as a three-digit number.