bar
1 of 9noun (1)
ˈbär 
often attributive
1
a
: a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide and has any of various uses (as for a lever, support, barrier, or fastening)
windows with bars across them
a door secured by an iron bar
b
: a solid piece or block of material that is longer than it is wide
a bar of gold
a candy bar
c
: a usually rigid piece (as of wood or metal) longer than it is wide that is used as a handle or support
especially : a handrail used by ballet dancers to maintain balance while exercising
2
: something that obstructs or prevents passage, progress, or action: such as
a
law : the destruction of an action (see action sense 5) or claim
a statute of limitations bar to the present action
also : a plea or objection that effects such destruction
b
: an intangible or nonphysical impediment
His poor attitude was a bar to his success.
c
: a submerged or partly submerged bank (as of sand) along a shore or in a river often obstructing navigation
3
law
a(1)
: the railing in a courtroom that encloses the place about the judge where prisoners are stationed or where the business of the court is transacted in civil cases
(2)
: court, tribunal
The younger judge brought a fresh viewpoint to the bar.
(3)
: a particular system of courts
practices at the New York bar
(4)
: an authority or tribunal that hands down judgment
will be judged at the bar of public opinion
b(1)
: the barrier in the English Inns of Court that formerly separated the seats of the benchers or readers (see reader sense 2) from the body of the hall occupied by the students
(2)
: the whole body of barristers or lawyers qualified to practice in the courts of any jurisdiction
dreams of being admitted to the bar
(3)
: the profession of barrister or lawyer
… heighten respect for members of the bar and judiciary …
W. L. Hoyt
W. L. Hoyt (4)
US : the test that a person must pass in order to become eligible to work as a lawyer
passed the bar and went into private practice
the bar exam/examination
4
: a straight stripe, band, or line much longer than it is wide: such as
a
heraldry : one of two or more horizontal stripes on a heraldic shield
b
: a metal or embroidered strip worn on a usually military uniform especially to indicate rank (as of a company officer) or service (see service entry 1 sense 6b)
a second lieutenant's bar
5
a
: a counter at which food or especially alcoholic beverages are served
We sat at the bar while we waited for a table.
b
: a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served : barroom
They went to a bar for drinks.
c
: shop sense 2b
a coffee bar
6
music
a
: a vertical line across the musical staff before the initial measure accent (see accent entry 1 sense 5)
b
: measure
Sing the first two bars.
7
textiles : a lace and embroidery joining covered with buttonhole stitch for connecting various parts of the pattern in needlepoint lace and cutwork
8
: standard
wants to raise the bar for approving new drugs
9
: a strip along the edge of a computer window that contains commonly used options or icons
The horizontal navigation bar across the top and bottom enables users to move quickly from primary section to primary section within the site … Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisherbar
2 of 9verb
barred; barring
transitive verb
1
a
: to fasten with a long, narrow piece of wood, metal, or other material : to fasten with a bar (see bar entry 1 sense 1a)
b
: to place bars across to prevent ingress or egress
bar the door
2
: to mark with straight stripes, bands, or lines that are much longer than they are wide : to mark with bars (see bar entry 1 sense 4) : stripe
a feather barred with blue
3
a
: to confine or shut in by or as if by bars (see bar entry 1 sense 1a)
barring prisoners in their cells
b
: to set aside : to not take into consideration : rule out
did not bar the possibility of further measures
c
: to keep out : exclude —often used with from
Women were barred from joining the club.
4
a
: to put forth legal objection to (something, such as a claim or action)
final judgment barred the subsequent claim
: to prevent (a party) from bringing a claim or action Plaintiffs are barred from litigating such claims.
b
: prevent, forbid
a decision barring his participation
bar
3 of 9preposition
: except
the country's most popular actor, bar none
bar
4 of 9noun (2)
: a unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals
bar
5 of 9abbreviation (1)
1
barometer; barometric
2
barrel
Bar
6 of 9abbreviation (2)
Baruch
BAr
7 of 9abbreviation (3)
bachelor of architecture
BAR
8 of 9abbreviation (4)
Browning automatic rifle
bar-
9 of 9combining form
variants or baro-
: weight : pressure
barometer
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- billet
- rod
Verb
- band
- streak
- stripe
Preposition
- apart from
- aside from
- barring
- beside
- besides
- but
- except
- excepting
- except for
- excluding
- exclusive of
- other than
- outside
- outside of
- save
- saving
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He barred the door as soon as he got in. All the windows and doors were barred. A herd of goats was barring the road. Nothing barred them from meeting together. The judge will bar the jurors from talking to reporters. A federal court has barred the group from using the name. The decision bars the possibility of additional development in the area. forms of punishment barred by the Constitution Preposition They have lost every match, bar one. everyone in the company is invited, bar none See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English barre, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *barra
Verb
Middle English barren, borrowed from Anglo-French barrer, derivative of barre bar entry 1
Preposition
derivative of bar entry 2
Noun (2)
German, from Greek baros
Combining form
Greek baros; akin to Greek barys heavy — more at grieve
First Known Use
Noun (1)
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Preposition
1723, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1910, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing bar
Kids Definition
bar 1 of 3
noun
ˈbär
1
: a usually slender rigid piece (as of wood or metal) that has a specific use (as for a lever or barrier)
2
: a rectangular solid piece or block of something
a bar of soap
candy bar 3
: a counter on which alcoholic drinks are served
4
: a place of business for the sale of alcoholic drinks
5
: a part of a place of business where a particular food or drink is served
a snack bar
6
: something that blocks the way Police set up bars across the road.
7
: a submerged or partly submerged bank along a shore or in a river
8
: a court of law
9
: the profession of law
10
: a straight stripe, band, or line longer than it is wide
11
: a vertical line across a musical staff marking equal measures of time
12
: measure entry 1 sense 6
bar
2 of 3verb
barred; barring
1
: to fasten with a bar
Bar the doors!
2
: to block off
Our path was barred by a chain.
3
: to shut out
barred from the meeting
bar
3 of 3preposition
: with the exception of
She is the best reader in the class, bar none.
Medical Definition
bar 1 of 4
noun
ˈbär
often attributive
1
a
: a piece of metal that connects parts of a removable partial denture
b
: the part of the wall of a horse's hoof that is bent inward toward the frog at the heel on each side and that extends toward the center of the sole
2
: a straight stripe, band, or line much longer than it is wide: as
a
: a transverse ridge on the roof of a horse's mouth —usually used in plural
b
: the space in front of the molar teeth of a horse in which the bit is placed
bar
2 of 4transitive verb
barred; barring
: to cut free and ligate (a vein in a horse's leg) above and below the site of a projected operative procedure
bar
3 of 4noun
: a unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals or to one million dynes per square centimeter or to 0.9869 atmosphere
bar
4 of 4abbreviation
barometer; barometric
Legal Definition
bar 1 of 2
noun
ˈbär
often attributive
1
a
: the railing in a courtroom that encloses the area around the judge where prisoners are stationed in criminal cases or where the business of the court is transacted in civil cases compare bench sense 1, dock, jury box, stand
b
: court, tribunal
the younger judge brought a fresh viewpoint to the bar
2
a
: the whole body of lawyers
especially : those qualified to practice in the courts of a particular jurisdiction
admitted to the Arizona bar
the bankruptcy bar
compare bench sense 3b b
: the profession or occupation of lawyer
c
: bar examination
passed the bar
3
: something that prevents admission, progress, or action: as
a
: an intangible impediment, obstacle, or barrier
consent of the victim is a bar to conviction
b
: the permanent preclusion of a claim or action especially due to the loss of a previous suit based on the same cause of action and between the same parties
its earlier successful suit against the purchaser for the price was a bar to the present suit Martino v. McDonald's System, Inc., 598 F.2d 1079 (1979)
compare collateral estoppel at estoppel sense 2a, merger sense 4, res judicata sense 2 Martino v. McDonald's System, Inc., 598 F.2d 1079 (1979)bar
2 of 2transitive verb
barred; barring
1
: to keep out : exclude
cannot bar the items from sale
2
: to prevent from doing or accomplishing (something)
plaintiff's conduct may bar her recovery
the contract bars his reinstatement
3
: preclude: as
a
: to act as a bar to (as a claim or action)
final judgment barred the subsequent claim
b
: to prevent (a party) from bringing a claim or action
plaintiffs are barred by the judgment…from relitigating their claims Roach v. Teamsters Local Union No. 688, 595 F.2d 446 (1979)
see also estop compare merge sense 2 Roach v. Teamsters Local Union No. 688, 595 F.2d 446 (1979)bar 1 of 3
noun
1
as in beam
a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide all of the prison's windows are partially covered with steel bars Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- beam
- board
- rod
- billet
- strip
- slab
- arbor
- band
- girder
- crossbar
- stick
- crossbeam
- ingot
- bloom
2
as in streak
a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background the cat had a bar of white down her throat Synonyms & Similar Words
- streak
- stripe
- band
- crossbar
- pinstripe
- blaze
3
as in bank
a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) more than one boater has run aground on that treacherous bar of sand in the river Synonyms & Similar Words
- bank
- mound
- mountain
- drift
- stack
- hill
- sandbar
- tuft
- embankment
- snowbank
- snowdrift
- heap
- mass
4
as in pub
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises a bar that serves meals as well as drinks Synonyms & Similar Words
- pub
- tavern
- saloon
- cafe
- nightclub
- café
- barroom
- dramshop
- taproom
- bistro
- cabaret
- cantina
- speakeasy
- roadhouse
- watering place
- watering hole
- alehouse
- gin mill
- brewpub
- sports bar
- grogshop
- public house
- dive
- joint
- wineshop
- barrelhouse
- bottle club
- package store
5
as in tribunal
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice rather than try and convict the alleged murderer in the mass media, let justice be done at the bar Synonyms & Similar Words
- tribunal
- court
- bench
- judiciary
- court of law
- forum
- criminal court
- judicature
- high court
- judicatory
- supreme court
- kangaroo court
- inquisition
- drumhead court-martial
- court-martial
6
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult the complication of the molecule is the biggest bar to reproducing it Synonyms & Similar Words
- obstacle
- hurdle
- barrier
- chain
- obstruction
- embarrassment
- block
- interference
- let
- stop
- impediment
- drag
- handicap
- shackles
- inhibition
- brake
- crimp
- burden
- load
- hitch
- stumbling block
- cramp
- encumbrance
- trammel
- hindrance
- deterrent
- clog
- constraint
- manacle
- balk
- stone wall
- fetter
- rub
- snag
- curb
- holdback
- stall
- blockade
- brick wall
- catch
- delay
- arrest
- restraint
- embargo
- reef
- danger
- disadvantage
- hazard
- holdup
- stoppage
- bit
- blockage
- rein
- difficulty
- check
- hobble
- drawback
- hardship
- cumber
- peril
- adversity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- incentive
- edge
- catalyst
- stimulus
- impetus
- advantage
- spur
- break
- stimulant
- aid
- assistance
- benefit
- goad
- help
- boost
- handmaiden
- handmaid
7
as in standard
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared we need to raise the bar for what is acceptable behavior in this situation Synonyms & Similar Words
- standard
- criterion
- benchmark
- metric
- measure
- rule
- grade
- barometer
- average
- mark
- example
- instance
- norm
- touchstone
- par
- gold standard
- yardstick
- case
- apex
- pinnacle
- peak
- summit
- meridian
- zenith
- acme
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deviation
- abnormality
- aberration
bar
2 of 3verb
1
as in to streak
to make stripes on barred the fence with white strips Synonyms & Similar Words
- streak
- stripe
- band
- blaze
2
as in to ban
to order not to do or use or to be done or used corporal punishment has long been barred in most public schools Synonyms & Similar Words
- ban
- outlaw
- prohibit
- forbid
- prevent
- stop
- discourage
- halt
- proscribe
- block
- curb
- enjoin
- squash
- exclude
- interdict
- silence
- preclude
- rule out
- shut out
- embargo
- restrain
- dissuade
- quash
- check
- deter
- squelch
- bridle
- crush
- crack down (on)
- disallow
- veto
- debar
- clamp down (on)
- suppress
- put down
- quell
- reject
- repress
- subdue
- hinder
- deprive
- inhibit
- impede
- obstruct
- rein (in)
- snuff (out)
- repudiate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permit
- let
- allow
- support
- sanction
- license
- suffer
- approve
- forward
- promote
- warrant
- order
- command
- further
- endorse
- authorize
- indorse
- advance
- encourage
- bid
- cultivate
- licence
- bear
- nourish
- nurture
- tolerate
- abide
- abet
- endure
- brook
- countenance
3
as in to exclude
to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of beach-goers are barred from walking in roped-off sections of the beach to protect nesting birds Synonyms & Similar Words
- ban
- exclude
- eliminate
- prevent
- rule out
- shut out
- freeze out
- prohibit
- except
- suspend
- block
- debar
- banish
- expel
- close out
- exile
- close one's doors to
- blackball
- preclude
- blacklist
- count (out)
- check off
- ostracize
- excommunicate
- hinder
- deter
- stave off
- impede
- deport
- obstruct
- halt
- ward (off)
- obviate
- throw out
- oust
- weed (out)
- cease
- disregard
- comb (out)
- discontinue
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- include
- admit
- entertain
- receive
- accept
- welcome
- embrace
- take in
- unban
4
as in to guard
to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree Synonyms & Similar Words
- guard
- barricade
- blockade
- gate
- wall (off)
- fence
- lock
- curtain (off)
- screen (off)
- dike
- block (off)
- close (off)
- hedge
- bolt
- obstruct
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- open
- reopen
- unbar
- unblock
- unbolt
bar
3 of 3preposition
as in beside
not including everyone in the company is invited, bar none Synonyms & Similar Words
- beside
- except
- but
- excepting
- besides
- saving
- outside
- save
- other than
- excluding
- except for
- apart from
- barring
- aside from
- outside of
- exclusive of