bar

bar

bar¹ [bär]

n.

[ME & OFr barre < ML barra, bar, barrier, prob. < Gaul * barros, the bushy end, akin to Ir bar, branch < IE * bhoros, cut wood < base * bher-, to cut with a sharp tool]

1. any piece of wood, metal, etc. longer than it is wide or thick, often used as a barrier, fastening, lever, etc.

2.

a) an oblong piece or mass of something solid [bar of soap, chocolate bar]

b) any of various small metal strips worn to show military or other rank

3. a thing that blocks the way or prevents entrance, departure, or further movement; specif., SANDBAR

4. anything that hinders or prevents [illiteracy is a bar to success]

5. a strip, stripe, band, or broad line, as of light or color

6.

a) the railing enclosing the part of a law court where the judges or lawyers sit, or where prisoners are brought to trial

b) this part of the law court

7.

a) a law court or system of courts

b) any place of judgment [the bar of public opinion]

8.

a) lawyers collectively

b) the legal profession

9.

a) a counter at which alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served

b) an establishment or room with such a counter

c) an article of furniture, often on wheels, from which drinks, etc. are served

10. BARRE

11. the mouthpiece of a horse's bit, or the part of a horse's mouth into which it is fitted

12. in lace making and other needlework, a loop or tie that connects parts of a pattern

13. Heraldry a horizontal stripe on a shield or bearing

14. Law

a) the defeat or nullifying of a claim or action

b) anything that brings this about

15. Music

a) a vertical line across a staff, dividing it into measures

b) a measure

c) DOUBLE BAR

16. Track & Field the horizontal bar used in the HIGH JUMP or POLE VAULT

17. Zool. either of the ends of the wall of a horse's hoof, curving inward toward the center of the sole

vt.

barred, barring

1. to fasten with or as with a bar

2. to obstruct by means of a bar or bars; shut off; close

3. to oppose, prevent, or forbid, as by legal action

4. to keep out; exclude [he was barred from the contest]

5. to set aside [barring certain possibilities]

6. to mark with stripes

prep.

excluding; excepting [the best bar none]

SYN.- HINDER¹, SHOAL²

——————

cross the bar

to die

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raise the bar or lower the bar

[< BAR¹ n. 16] raise (or lower) the standard of judgment

bar² [bär]

n.

[Ger < Gr baros, weight, akin to barys, heavy: see GRAVE¹]

1. the basic unit of pressure in the CGS system, equal to the pressure of a force of one million dynes per square centimeter: abbrev. b

2. former name for MICROBAR

bar³

abbrev.

1.

a) barometer

b) barometric

2. barrel