First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
barn
noun \ˈbärn\
: a building on a farm that is used for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or equipment
: a large building that is usually bare and plain
Full Definition of BARN
1
a : a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment b : an unusually large and usually bare building <a great barn of a hotel — W. A. White>
2
: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (as trolley cars or trucks)
— barn·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
— barny \ˈbär-nē\ adjective
See barn defined for English-language learners
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Origin of BARN
Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store
BARN Defined for Kids
barn
noun \ˈbärn\
Definition of BARN for Kids
: a building used for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals
Medical Dictionary
barn
noun \ˈbärn\
Medical Definition of BARN
: a unit of area equal to 10−24 square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section
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