Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large cylindrical container: A barrel is a round, hollow container with flat ends, typically made of wood or metal, used for storing and transporting liquids or other goods.
   • A unit of measurement: A barrel is a standard unit of capacity, especially for liquids like oil or beer. The exact volume varies by commodity and region.
   • The tube of a gun: The barrel is the long, metal tube in a firearm through which a bullet is fired.
   • A bulging cylindrical shape: Something shaped like a barrel, such as the body of a drum or a specific part of an animal or object.

2. Verb:

   • To put into barrels: The action of placing a substance, typically a liquid, into barrels for storage or transport.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The winery aged the wine in oak barrels for five years.
  • Oil prices are often quoted per barrel.
  • He cleaned the rifle's barrel after shooting.
  • The horse had a strong, muscular barrel.

• Verb:

  • The brewery will barrel the new batch of ale next week.

Advanced Usage

• "Over a barrel": To be in a difficult situation where one is forced to accept unfavorable terms.

  • The contract negotiations had them over a barrel.

• "Scrape the bottom of the barrel": To use the last and worst resources or options because nothing better is available.

  • Hiring him shows they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

• "Lock, stock, and barrel": Completely; including every part.

  • They sold the business, lock, stock, and barrel.

Variants and Related Words

• Barrelful (n): The amount a barrel can hold.

  • They collected a barrelful of rainwater.

• Barreled (adj):

  • Contained in a barrel: barreled beer.
  • Having a barrel or barrels: a double-barreled shotgun.

• Barreling (v, pres. part.): Moving very fast and often forcefully.

  • The truck was barreling down the highway.

Synonyms

• Noun: Cask, keg, drum, tun, vat, cylinder, tube.
• Verb: Cask, keg, pack.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Barrel along: To move very quickly, often in a reckless manner.

  • The car was barreling along the country road.

• Barrel into: To crash into something or someone forcefully and without warning.

  • He wasn't looking and barreled into the door.

Related Idioms

• "A barrel of laughs": A very amusing person or situation (often used sarcastically).

  • The tense meeting was a real barrel of laughs.

• "Like shooting fish in a barrel": Extremely easy; a task with no challenge.

  • With their defense so weak, scoring goals was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Noun

1. any of various units of capacity
   • a barrel of beer is 31 gallons and a barrel of oil is 42 gallons
2. the quantity that a barrel (of any size) will hold
3. a bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
4. a cylindrical container that holds liquids
5. a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired

Verb

1. put in barrels