Synonyms

behind bars

[bahr] Origin

bar

1[bahr] noun, verb, barred, bar·ring, preposition
noun
1.
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.
EXPAND
6.
anything that obstructs, hinders, or impedes; obstacle; barrier: a bar to important legislation.
7.
a counter or place where beverages, especially 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.
c.
the unit of music contained between two bar lines; measure.
17.
Ballet. barre.
18.
Law.
a.
an objection that nullifies an action or claim.
b.
a stoppage or defeat of an alleged right of action.
19.
Typography. a horizontal stroke of a type character, as of an A, H, t, and sometimes e.
20.
Architecture. (in tracery) a relatively long and slender upright of stone treated as a colonette or molded.
21.
Building Trades.
a.
an iron or steel shape: I-bar.
b.
a muntin.
22.
Military. one of a pair of metal or cloth insignia worn by certain commissioned officers.
23.
bars, the transverse ridges on the roof of the mouth of a horse.
24.
a space between the molar and canine teeth of a horse into which the bit is fitted.
25.
(in a bridle) the mouthpiece connecting the cheeks.
26.
bride2 (def. 1).
27.
Heraldry. a horizontal band, narrower than a fess, that crosses the field of an escutcheon.
28.
Obsolete. a gateway capable of being barred.
COLLAPSE
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,ŋ stripes, or bands.

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Behind bars is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
preposition
34.
except; omitting; but: bar none.
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; Middle English barre < Old French < Vulgar Latin *barra rod, of obscure, perhaps of pre-Latin orig.

bar·less, adjective
bar·ra·ble, adjective
un·bar·ra·ble, adjective


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 especially 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To behind bars
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

bar
unit of pressure, coined 1903 from Gk. baros "weight," from barys "heavy" (see grave (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

bar (bär)
n.

  1. The international unit of pressure equal to 1 megadyne (106 dyne) per square centimeter or 0.987 atmosphere.

  2. A metal segment of greater length than width which serves to connect two or more parts of a removable partial denture.

  3. A segment of tissue or a tight cellular junction that serves to constrict the passage of fluid, usually urine.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
bar   (bär)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. A unit used to measure atmospheric pressure. It is equal to a force of 100,000 newtons per square meter of surface area, or 0.987 atmosphere.

  2. An elongated, offshore ridge of sand, gravel, or other unconsolidated sediment, formed by the action of waves or long-shore currents and submerged at least during high tide. Bars are especially common near the mouths of rivers or estuaries.

  3. A ridgelike mound of sand, gravel or silt formed within a stream, along its banks, or at its mouth. Bars form where the stream's current slows down, causing sediment to be deposited.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary

behind bars definition


  1. mod.
    in jail; in prison. : You belong behind bars, you creep!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

behind bars

In prison, as in All murderers should be put behind bars for life. The bars here refer to the iron rods used to confine prisoners. [c. 1900]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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