Definition Definition

bar - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'bar' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Bar [ n.]
- A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.
- An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of lead; a bar of soap.
- Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier.
- A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.
- Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as, the bar of the House of Commons.
- The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court.
- The place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment, trial, or sentence.
- The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the legal profession.
- A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's action.
- Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
- A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where liquors for sale are kept.
- An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth part of the field.
- A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of color.
- A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.
- The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed.
- The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the center of the sole.
- A drilling or tamping rod.
- A vein or dike crossing a lode.
- A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.
- A slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass of a window; a sash bar.
- To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.
- To restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; distance bars our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is barred by time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; -- sometimes with up.
- To except; to exclude by exception.
- To cross with one or more stripes or lines.

Meaning of 'bar' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . bar [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
Example in sentence:
  • a bar of chocolate
Meaning (2):
- a narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background
Example in sentence:
  • a green toad with small black stripes or bars;
  • may the Stars and Stripes forever wave
Meaning (3):
- a heating element in an electric fire
Example in sentence:
  • an electric fire with three bars
Meaning (4):
- a counter where you can obtain food or drink
Example in sentence:
  • he bought a hot dog and a coke at the bar
Meaning (5):
- a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
Example in sentence:
  • he drowned his sorrows in whiskey at the bar
Meaning (6):
- the body of individuals qualified to practice law in a particular jurisdiction
Example in sentence:
  • he was admitted to the bar in New Jersey
Meaning (7):
- an obstruction (usually metal) placed at the top of a goal
Example in sentence:
  • it was an excellent kick but the ball hit the bar
Meaning (8):
- the act of preventing
Example in sentence:
  • money was allocated to study the cause and prevention of influenza;
  • there was no bar against leaving
Meaning (9):
- (law) a railing that encloses the part of the courtroom where the judges and lawyers sit and the case is tried
Example in sentence:
  • spectators were not allowed past the bar
Meaning (10):
- a submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore
Example in sentence:
  • the boat ran aground on a submerged bar in the river
Meaning (11):
- musical notation for a repeating pattern of musical beats
Example in sentence:
  • the orchestra omitted the last twelve bars of the song
Meaning (12):
- a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon
Example in sentence:
  • there were bars in the windows to prevent escape
Meaning (13):
- (meteorology) a unit of pressure equal to a million dynes per square centimeter
Example in sentence:
  • unfortunately some writers have used bar for one dyne per square centimeter
14 . bar [ v]
Meaning (14):
- render unsuitable for passage
Example in sentence:
  • barricade the streets;
  • block the way;
  • stop the busy road
Meaning (15):
- secure with, or as if with, bars
Example in sentence:
  • He barred the door
Meaning (16):
- expel, as if by official decree
Example in sentence:
  • he was banished from his own country
Meaning (17):
- prevent from entering; keep out
Example in sentence:
  • He was barred from membership in the club