bar1
n.
- a long rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material, used as an obstruction, fastening, or weapon.
▸a sandbank or shoal at the mouth of a harbour or an estuary.
▸Brit. a metal strip below the clasp of a medal, awarded as an additional distinction.
▸Heraldry a charge in the form of a narrow horizontal stripe across the shield.
- a counter in a pub or cafe across which drinks or refreshments are served.
▸a room in a pub, restaurant, or hotel in which alcohol is served.
▸an establishment where alcohol and other refreshments are served.
▸a small shop or stall serving refreshments or providing a specified service:
a snack bar.
- a barrier or restriction to action or advance:
a bar to promotion.
▸a plea arresting an action or claim in a law case.
- Music any of the short sections or measures into which a piece of music is divided, shown on a score by vertical lines across the stave.
-
(the bar)
a partition in a court room, now usually notional, beyond which most people may not pass and at which an accused person stands.
▸Brit. a rail marking the end of each chamber in the Houses of Parliament.
-
(the Bar)
the profession of barrister.
▸Brit. barristers collectively.
▸N. Amer. lawyers collectively.
v.
(bars, barring, barred)
- fasten with a bar or bars.
- prohibit from doing something or going somewhere.
▸exclude from consideration.
▸Law prevent or delay (an action) by objection.
- mark with bars or stripes.
prep.
chiefly Brit. except for.
▸Brit. Horse Racing except the horses indicated (used when stating the odds).
Phrase
- bar none
with no exceptions. - be called
(or go)
to the Bar
Brit. be admitted as a barrister. - be called within the Bar
Brit. be appointed a Queen's Counsel. - behind bars
in prison. - lower
(or raise)
the bar
lower (or raise) the standards which need to be met in order to qualify for something.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. barre (n.), barrer (v.), of unknown origin.
bar2
n.
a unit of pressure equivalent to a hundred thousand newtons per square metre or approximately one atmosphere.
Etymology
early 20th cent.: from Gk baros ‘weight’.