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bars

bars


barre also bar    Audio Help   (bär)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. A handrail fixed to a wall, as in a dance studio, used by ballet dancers as a support in certain exercises.
  2. A fingering technique used with fretted stringed instruments in which a finger is laid across the fretboard to stop all or several strings at once.


[French, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *barra, of Gaulish origin.]

bar 2    Audio Help   (bär)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   A unit of pressure equal to one million (106) dynes per square centimeter.


[Greek baros, weight; see gwerə-1 in Indo-European roots.]

bar 1    Audio Help   (bär)  Pronunciation Key 


n.  
  1. A relatively long, straight, rigid piece of solid material used as a fastener, support, barrier, or structural or mechanical member.
    1. A solid oblong block of a substance, such as soap or candy.
    2. A rectangular block of a precious metal.
    3. A horizontal bar.
    4. A horizontal rod that marks the height to be cleared in high jumping or pole vaulting.
    5. A narrow metal or embroidered strip worn on a military uniform indicating rank or service.
    6. Chiefly British A small insignia worn on a military decoration indicating that it has been awarded an additional time.
    7. The nullification, defeat, or prevention of a claim or action.
    8. The process by which nullification, defeat, or prevention is achieved.
    9. Attorneys considered as a group.
    10. The profession of law.
    11. A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
    12. A measure.
    13. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    14. An establishment or room having such a counter.
  3. Sports
    1. A horizontal bar.
    2. A horizontal rod that marks the height to be cleared in high jumping or pole vaulting.
    3. A narrow metal or embroidered strip worn on a military uniform indicating rank or service.
    4. Chiefly British A small insignia worn on a military decoration indicating that it has been awarded an additional time.
    5. The nullification, defeat, or prevention of a claim or action.
    6. The process by which nullification, defeat, or prevention is achieved.
    7. Attorneys considered as a group.
    8. The profession of law.
    9. A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
    10. A measure.
    11. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    12. An establishment or room having such a counter.
  4. A standard, expectation, or degree of requirement: a leader whose example set a high bar for others.
  5. Something that impedes or prevents action or progress. See Synonyms at obstacle.
  6. A ridge, as of sand or gravel, on a shore or streambed, that is formed by the action of tides or currents.
  7. A narrow marking, as a stripe or band.
    1. A narrow metal or embroidered strip worn on a military uniform indicating rank or service.
    2. Chiefly British A small insignia worn on a military decoration indicating that it has been awarded an additional time.
    3. The nullification, defeat, or prevention of a claim or action.
    4. The process by which nullification, defeat, or prevention is achieved.
    5. Attorneys considered as a group.
    6. The profession of law.
    7. A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
    8. A measure.
    9. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    10. An establishment or room having such a counter.
  9. Heraldry A pair of horizontal parallel lines drawn across a shield.
  10. Law
    1. The nullification, defeat, or prevention of a claim or action.
    2. The process by which nullification, defeat, or prevention is achieved.
    3. Attorneys considered as a group.
    4. The profession of law.
    5. A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
    6. A measure.
    7. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    8. An establishment or room having such a counter.
  11. The railing in a courtroom enclosing the part of the room where the judges and lawyers sit, witnesses are heard, and prisoners are tried.
  12. A place of judgment; a tribunal.
  13. Law
    1. Attorneys considered as a group.
    2. The profession of law.
    3. A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
    4. A measure.
    5. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    6. An establishment or room having such a counter.
  14. Music
    1. A vertical line drawn through a staff to mark off a measure.
    2. A measure.
    3. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    4. An establishment or room having such a counter.
  15. Variant of barre.
    1. A counter at which drinks, especially alcoholic drinks, and sometimes food, are served.
    2. An establishment or room having such a counter.

tr.v.   barred, bar·ring, bars
  1. To fasten securely with a long, straight, rigid piece of material.
  2. To shut in or out with or as if with bars.
  3. To obstruct or impede; block.
  4. To keep out; exclude. See Synonyms at hinder1.
  5. To rule out; except.
  6. To mark with stripes or bands.
  7. Law To stop (a claim or action) by objection.

prep.   Except for; excluding: This was your best performance, bar none.


[Middle English barre, from Old French; see barre.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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