Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long, rigid piece of solid material: A "bar" is a straight piece of metal, wood, or other solid substance, often used as a support, obstruction, or weapon.
   • A counter or establishment serving drinks or food: A "bar" is a place where alcoholic beverages are served over a counter, or the counter itself where food and drinks are sold.
   • A unit of musical time: In music, a "bar" is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats, represented by vertical lines on a staff.
   • A legal profession or court enclosure: The "bar" can refer to the profession of being a lawyer, or the railing in a courtroom that separates the area for judges and lawyers.
   • An obstruction or obstacle: A "bar" is something that blocks a path or prevents progress.
   • A narrow stripe or band: A "bar" is a long, narrow marking of a different color or texture.
   • A submerged ridge: A "bar" is a ridge of sand or other material at the mouth of a river or along a shore.
   • A unit of pressure: In meteorology and physics, a "bar" is a unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals.

2. Verb:

   • To fasten or obstruct with a bar: To "bar" means to secure a door or window with a rigid piece of material to prevent entry or exit.
   • To prohibit or prevent: To "bar" means to officially forbid someone from doing something or entering a place.
   • To block a path: To "bar" means to obstruct a road, passage, or way.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The windows had strong iron bars for security. (The windows were secured with rigid metal pieces.)
  • Let's meet at the bar for a drink after work. (Let's meet at the establishment serving drinks.)
  • The song's chorus repeats every eight bars. (The musical segment of eight beats repeats.)
  • After passing the exam, she was admitted to the bar. (She became qualified to practice law.)
  • His criminal record was a bar to employment. (His record was an obstacle to getting a job.)
  • The flag had red and white bars. (The flag had red and white stripes.)
  • The ship could not pass because of the sand bar. (The submerged ridge of sand blocked the ship.)

• Verb:

  • Please bar the door before you go to sleep. (Please fasten the door with a bar.)
  • The club bars anyone under the age of 21. (The club prohibits entry to people under 21.)
  • Fallen trees barred the road after the storm. (Fallen trees blocked the road.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be called to the bar": To be admitted to practice as a lawyer.

  • She studied for years before being called to the bar.

• "Behind bars": In prison.

  • The criminal spent ten years behind bars.

• "Bar none": With no exceptions.

  • This is the best restaurant in town, bar none.

Variants and Related Words

• Barroom (n): A room with a bar for serving alcoholic drinks.
• Crossbar (n): A horizontal bar, especially on a goalpost or bicycle.
• Sandbar (n): A ridge of sand formed in a river or along a shore.
• Barred (adj): Having bars; or prohibited.
  • The window was barred.
  • He is barred from the premises.

Synonyms

• Noun (rod): Rod, pole, beam.
• Noun (obstacle): Barrier, obstacle, obstruction.
• Noun (pub): Pub, tavern, saloon.
• Verb (block): Block, obstruct, impede.
• Verb (ban): Ban, prohibit, forbid.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• "Bar from": To officially prevent someone from entering a place or doing something.
  • He was barred from the competition for cheating.

Related Idioms

• "Raise the bar": To set a higher standard.

  • The new manager really raised the bar for performance.

• "A bar to (something)": An obstacle preventing something.

  • Lack of funding is a bar to further research.

Noun

1. (law) a railing that encloses the part of the courtroom where the judges and lawyers sit and the case is tried
   • spectators were not allowed past the bar
2. a heating element in an electric fire
   • an electric fire with three bars
3. a horizontal rod that serves as a support for gymnasts as they perform exercises
4. a portable .30 caliber automatic rifle operated by gas pressure and fed by cartridges from a magazine; used by United States troops in World War I and in World War II and in the Korean War
5. a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
   • a bar of chocolate
6. a narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background
   • a green toad with small black stripes or bars
   • may the Stars and Stripes forever wave
7. the body of individuals qualified to practice law in a particular jurisdiction
   • he was admitted to the bar in New Jersey
8. a submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore
   • the boat ran aground on a submerged bar in the river
9. (meteorology) a unit of pressure equal to a million dynes per square centimeter
   • unfortunately some writers have used bar for one dyne per square centimeter
10. the act of preventing
    • there was no bar against leaving
    • money was allocated to study the cause and prevention of influenza
11. an obstruction (usually metal) placed at the top of a goal
    • it was an excellent kick but the ball hit the bar
12. musical notation for a repeating pattern of musical beats
    • the orchestra omitted the last twelve bars of the song
13. a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon
    • there were bars in the windows to prevent escape
14. a counter where you can obtain food or drink
    • he bought a hot dog and a coke at the bar
15. a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
    • he drowned his sorrows in whiskey at the bar

Verb

1. secure with, or as if with, bars
   • He barred the door
2. expel, as if by official decree
   • he was banished from his own country
3. render unsuitable for passage
   • block the way
   • barricade the streets
   • stop the busy road
4. prevent from entering; keep out
   • He was barred from membership in the club