bar

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /bɑː/, SAMPA: /bA:/
• (US) enPR: /bär/, IPA ^(key): /bɑr/, SAMPA: /bAr/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

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Noun

Singular bar

Plural bars

1. A bar is a place that sells alcoholic drinks.

   I'm going to drink beer at the bar.

2. A bar is the counter or bench in a hotel or bar where drinks are sold.

   The waitress stood behind the bar and poured our drinks.

3. A bar is a box-shaped piece of something.

   You can buy a bar of soap, or a bar of gold.

4. A bar is a long, hard thing that looks like a stick.

   The prisoner was kept behind bars in the jail.

Synonyms

• staff
• piece
• block

• 
  a bar
• 
  three green bars
• 
  a monkey behind the bars of a cage

Verb

Plain form bar

Third-person singular bars

Past tense barred

Past participle barred

Present participle barring

1. To bar is to stop someone from doing something; to prohibit.

   I was barred from entering the club.

2. To bar is to lock a door or window, or to block it so others can not enter.

   I barred the door to stop her leaving the room.

Synonyms

• stop
• prevent
• secure
• block
• lock
• ban
• restrict
• prohibit

Related words

• unbarred

Preposition

Preposition bar

1. except; not including
   • Synonyms: except, excepting and but

   He's the fastest runner in the world bar none.

Related words

• barring