bar
bar
Pronunciation
bar: /bɑːr/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/ɑː/ - open back unrounded vowel
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bar
Plural Noun: bars
Verb (base form): bar
Verb (third-person singular present): bars
Verb (present participle): barring
Verb (past tense/past participle): barred
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A long, rigid piece of solid material, typically metal or wood, often used as a barrier, structural component, or a means of support.
Synonyms: rod, pole, beam, rail, stick
Antonyms: opening, gap, space
Definition 2: A counter or table where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served, or the establishment itself where such a counter is located.
Synonyms: pub, tavern, saloon, lounge, cantina
Antonyms: (none readily available for this specific sense, as it refers to a type of establishment)
Definition 3: A unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals, approximately equal to the atmospheric pressure at sea level.
Synonyms: (none in common use; it's a specific unit)
Antonyms: (none applicable)
Definition 4: A stripe, band, or mark, especially one that is long and narrow, differing in color or texture from the surrounding area.
Synonyms: stripe, band, streak, line, strip
Antonyms: (none readily available; refers to a visual characteristic)
Definition 5 (Legal): The legal profession as a whole, or the place in a courtroom where the public is separated from the judge and lawyers.
Synonyms: legal profession, legal community, judiciary
Antonyms: (none applicable)
Definition 6 (Music): A segment of music containing a fixed number of beats, marked by vertical lines in a musical score.
Synonyms: measure
Antonyms: (none applicable)
Verb
Definition 1: To prevent or prohibit someone from doing something or entering a place; to obstruct or block.
Synonyms: block, obstruct, hinder, impede, prohibit, exclude
Antonyms: allow, permit, enable, facilitate, open, unblock
Definition 2: To fasten or secure something with a bar or bars.
Synonyms: bolt, secure, lock, latch
Antonyms: unbar, unbolt, unlock, unlatch
Preposition
Definition 1: Except for; apart from.
Synonyms: excluding, saving, other than, besides
Antonyms: including, along with
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent his evenings in the dusty, quiet bar at the edge of town, nursing a single whiskey and watching the shadows lengthen." (Example from a fictional novel, general understanding of "bar" as an establishment)
"The old house was secured by a heavy iron bar across the main door, a testament to its previous owner's desire for privacy." (Example from a historical fiction, "bar" as a physical object/barrier)
"The author's prose sets a high bar for aspiring writers, with its intricate descriptions and compelling character development." (From a literary review, "bar" meaning a standard or level)
Newspapers:
"Local authorities have decided to bar all non-essential travel to the affected region due to rising water levels." (From a news report, "bar" as a verb meaning to prohibit)
"The government has introduced new legislation to bar discrimination in the workplace." (From a newspaper editorial, "bar" as a verb meaning to prevent)
"A new study reveals that the city's noise pollution levels have crossed the acceptable bar for residential areas." (From an environmental report, "bar" as a threshold or limit)
Online Publications:
"Tech giant faces legal challenges as a judge upholds the decision to bar its merger with a smaller competitor." (From an online business news article, "bar" as a verb meaning to prevent/block)
"The fitness influencer shared her favorite protein bar recipe for a quick and healthy snack." (From an online lifestyle blog, "bar" as a type of food product)
"Our website features a comment section, but we reserve the right to bar users who engage in hate speech." (From an online forum's terms of service, "bar" as a verb meaning to exclude)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: (Dialogue) "You can't just bar me from seeing my kids!" (From a dramatic scene, "bar" as a verb meaning to prevent access)
Music (Lyrics): "Met you in a smoky bar, where the music played so loud." (From a song lyric, "bar" as an establishment)
Video Games: (On-screen text) "Access Denied: You are barred from this area." (From a video game prompt, "bar" as a verb in past participle, meaning prohibited)
Podcasts: "The host humorously described trying to lift a heavy weight bar during his first gym experience." (From a fitness podcast, "bar" as a piece of exercise equipment)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm going to the bar after work to catch the game." (Common casual conversation, "bar" as an establishment)
"They put a security bar on the window for added protection." (Everyday discussion about home security, "bar" as a physical object)
"That's a pretty high bar to clear for such a small team." (Figurative use in a discussion about expectations or challenges, "bar" as a standard)
"Except for John, everyone else was barred from entering the meeting." (General conversation about exclusion, "bar" as a verb in past participle)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bar
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." (Often attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, though its exact origin is debated, it implies a "bar" to progress that inspiration overcomes.)
"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden – while not using "bar," this quote sets a "bar" for evaluating worth.)
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant." (Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech – suggesting truth and love will eventually overcome any "bar" to justice.)
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." (Martin Luther King Jr., often quoted – implying silence acts as a "bar" to change.)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address – love for work is often seen as removing the "bar" of drudgery.)
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom – resilience helps overcome any "bar" of defeat.)
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi, often attributed – this quote sets a personal "bar" for action.)
"It is by acts and not by ideas that people live." (Anatole France, The Garden of Epicurus – emphasizing action over mere thought, suggesting inaction is a "bar" to living fully.)
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." (Albert Einstein, often quoted – imagination removes the "bar" of conventional thinking.)
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt, My Day column – belief can overcome any "bar" to achieving aspirations.)
Etymology
The word "bar" has a long and interesting history, with its different meanings all connected back to a central idea of a "rod" or "barrier."
It originally entered the English language in the 12th century (around 1175, according to the Oxford English Dictionary) as a noun. Its first known meaning was a "stake or rod of iron used to fasten a door or gate." Think of a heavy piece of wood or metal used to secure something closed, creating a physical barrier.
This meaning came to English from the Old French word "barre," which meant "beam, bar, gate, barrier." The French word, in turn, is believed to have come from the Vulgar Latin word "*barra," meaning "rod." It's not entirely clear where this Vulgar Latin word itself came from.
So, at its very core, "bar" meant a physical obstacle or a long, slender piece of material.
From this basic meaning, many other senses of "bar" developed:
The idea of a "barrier" naturally led to the sense of "anything that obstructs or prevents," which appeared around the 1530s.
The "bar" in a courtroom (the railing separating the public from the legal professionals) came about in the 1550s, also from the idea of a barrier. This then led to "the bar" referring to the legal profession itself.
The "bar" where drinks are served (like in a pub) came into use in the 1590s. This is because there was often a physical "bar" or counter that separated the server from the customers.
So, while the meanings of "bar" have expanded significantly over time, they all stem from that original sense of a "rod" or "barrier."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bar
Behind bars: In prison.
Raise the bar: To set a higher standard or expectation.
Lower the bar: To set a lower standard or expectation.
Go to the bar: To go to a place where alcoholic drinks are served.
The bar is open: Indicating that drinks are being served.
No holds barred: Without any restrictions or limitations.
Bar none: Without exception; absolutely the best.
To bar the way: To obstruct or block progress.
A bar sinister: An old heraldic term indicating illegitimacy, often used metaphorically to mean a stain on one's reputation.
Behind the bar: Working as a bartender.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bar from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
