First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
1bar
noun, often attributive \ˈbär\
Definition of BAR
1
a : a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide and has any of various uses (as for a lever, support, barrier, or fastening) b : a solid piece or block of material that is longer than it is wide <a bar of gold> <a candy bar> c : a usually rigid piece (as of wood or metal) longer than it is wide that is used as a handle or support; especially : a handrail used by ballet dancers to maintain balance while exercising
2
: something that obstructs or prevents passage, progress, or action: as a : the destruction of an action or claim in law; also : a plea or objection that effects such destruction b : an intangible or nonphysical impediment c : a submerged or partly submerged bank (as of sand) along a shore or in a river often obstructing navigation
3
a (1) : the railing in a courtroom that encloses the place about the judge where prisoners are stationed or where the business of the court is transacted in civil cases (2) : court, tribunal (3) : a particular system of courts (4) : an authority or tribunal that hands down judgment b (1) : the barrier in the English Inns of Court that formerly separated the seats of the benchers or readers from the body of the hall occupied by the students (2) : the whole body of barristers or lawyers qualified to practice in the courts of any jurisdiction (3) : the profession of barrister or lawyer
4
: a straight stripe, band, or line much longer than it is wide: as a : one of two or more horizontal stripes on a heraldic shield b : a metal or embroidered strip worn on a usually military uniform especially to indicate rank (as of a company officer) or service
6
a : a vertical line across the musical staff before the initial measure accent b : measure
7
: a lace and embroidery joining covered with buttonhole stitch for connecting various parts of the pattern in needlepoint lace and cutwork
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Origin of BAR
Middle English barre, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *barra
2bar
verb
: to put a bar or a set of bars in front of a door, window, etc., so that people cannot go in or out of it
: to put something in a road, path, etc., so that people cannot get by
: to prevent or forbid (someone) from doing something
barredbar·ring
Full Definition of BAR
transitive verb
1
a : to fasten with a bar b : to place bars across to prevent ingress or egress <bar the door>
2
: to mark with bars : stripe
3
4
See bar defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BAR
13th century
3bar
preposition
—used in the phrase bar none to emphasize that a statement is completely true
: except for
Full Definition of BAR
: except <the country's most popular actor, bar none>
See bar defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BAR
1714
Related to BAR
- Synonyms
- apart from, aside from, except, barring, beside, besides, but, except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, save, saving
4bar
noun
Definition of BAR
: a unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals
Origin of BAR
German, from Greek baros
First Known Use: 1910
5bar
abbreviation
Definition of BAR
1
barometer; barometric
2
barrel
Bar
abbreviation
Definition of BAR
Baruch
BAr
abbreviation
Definition of BAR
bachelor of architecture
Other Education Terms
BAR
abbreviation
Definition of BAR
Browning automatic rifle
BAR Defined for Kids
1bar
noun \ˈbär\
Definition of BAR for Kids
1
: a usually slender rigid piece (as of wood or metal) that has a specific use (as for a lever or barrier)
2
: a rectangular solid piece or block of something <a bar of soap> <candy bar>
3
: a counter on which alcoholic drinks are served
4
: a place of business for the sale of alcoholic drinks
5
: a part of a place of business where a particular food or drink is served <a snack bar>
6
: something that blocks the way <Police set up bars across the road.>
7
: a submerged or partly submerged bank along a shore or in a river
8
: a court of law
9
: the profession of law
10
: a straight stripe, band, or line longer than it is wide
11
: a vertical line across a musical staff marking equal measures of time
12
: 1measure 6
2bar
verb
barredbar·ring
Definition of BAR for Kids
1
: to fasten with a bar <Bar the doors!>
2
: to block off <Our path was barred by a chain.>
3
: to shut out <barred from the meeting>
3bar
preposition
Definition of BAR for Kids
: with the exception of <She is the best reader in the class, bar none.>
Learn More About BAR
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Seen & Heard
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