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[1] 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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