a relatively long, evenly shaped piece of some solid substance, as metal or wood, used as a guard or obstruction or for some mechanical purpose: the bars of a cage.
2.
an oblong piece of any solid material: a bar of soap; a candy bar.
3.
the amount of material in a bar.
4.
an ingot, lump, or wedge of gold or silver.
5.
a long ridge of sand, gravel, or other material near or slightly above the surface of the water at or near the mouth of a river or harbor entrance, often constituting an obstruction to navigation.
6.
anything that obstructs, hinders, or impedes; obstacle; barrier: a bar to important legislation.
7.
a counter or place where beverages, esp. liquors, or light meals are served to customers: a snack bar; a milk bar.
8.
a barroom or tavern.
9.
(in a home) a counter, small wagon, or similar piece of furniture for serving food or beverages: a breakfast bar.
10.
the legal profession.
11.
the practicing members of the legal profession in a given community.
12.
any tribunal: the bar of public opinion.
13.
a band or strip: a bar of light.
14.
a railing in a courtroom separating the general public from the part of the room occupied by the judges, jury, attorneys, etc.
15.
a crowbar.
16.
Music.
a.
Also called bar line.the line marking the division between two measures of music.
Heraldry. a horizontal band, narrower than a fess, that crosses the field of an escutcheon.
28.
Obsolete. a gateway capable of being barred.
–verb (used with object)
29.
to equip or fasten with a bar or bars: Bar the door before retiring for the night.
30.
to block by or as if by bars: The police barred the exits in an attempt to prevent the thief's escape.
31.
to prevent or hinder: They barred her entrance to the club.
32.
to exclude or except: He was barred from membership because of his reputation.
33.
to mark with bars, stripes, or bands.
–preposition
34.
except; omitting; but: bar none.
—Idioms
35.
at bar, Law.
a.
before the court and being tried: a case at bar.
b.
before all the judges of a court: a trial at bar.
36.
behind bars, in jail: We wanted the criminal behind bars.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME barre < OF < VL *barra rod, of obscure, perh. of pre-L orig.]
—Related forms
barless, adjective
bar·ra·ble, adjective
—Synonyms 1. rod, pole. 5. shoal, reef, bank, sand bar. 6. deterrent, stop. Bar,barrier,barricade mean something put in the way of advance. Bar has the general meaning of hindrance or obstruction: a bar across the doorway. Barrier suggests an impediment to progress or a defensive obstruction (natural or artificial): a trade barrier; a mountain barrier; a road barrier. A barricade is esp. a pile of articles hastily gathered or a rude earthwork for protection in street fighting: a barricade of wooden boxes. 7. saloon, café; cocktail lounge. 30, 31. obstruct, deter, impede, barricade. 32. eliminate.
bar·ringAudio Help (bär'ĭng) Pronunciation Key
prep.
Apart from the occurrence of; excepting: Barring strong headwinds, the plane will arrive on schedule.