barn

¹

[ bahrn ]

noun

1. a building for storing hay, grain, etc., and often for housing livestock.
2. a very large garage for buses, trucks, etc.; carbarn.

verb (used with object)

1. to store (hay, grain, etc.) in a barn.

barn

²

[ bahrn ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a unit of nuclear cross section, equal to 10 −24 square centimeter. : b

barn

¹

/ bɑːn /

noun

1. a unit of nuclear cross section equal to 10 ^–28square metre b

barn

²

/ bɑːn /

noun

1. a large farm outbuilding, used chiefly for storing hay, grain, etc, but also for housing livestock
2. a large shed for sheltering railroad cars, trucks, etc
3. any large building, esp an unattractive one
4. modifier relating to a system of poultry farming in which birds are allowed to move freely within a barn

   barn eggs

Other Words From

• barnlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of barn¹

before 950; Middle English bern, Old English berern ( bere ( barley ¹ ) + ern, ǣrn house, cognate with Old Frisian fīaern cowhouse, Old High German erin, Gothic razn, Old Norse rann house; ransack, rest ¹ )

Origin of barn²

First recorded in 1945–50; special use of barn ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of barn¹

C20: from barn ¹; so called because of the relatively large cross section

Origin of barn²

Old English beren , from bere barley + ærn room; see barley ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see can't hit the broad side of a barn ; lock the barn door after the horse is stolen .

Example Sentences

Eddy said his father landed, hid his parachute and stole a bicycle to get "as far away as possible", ending up in a barn.

From BBC

"Within half an hour, he heard German voices outside, he couldn't speak German so he didn't know what they were talking about, so he lay quietly there and then they open fired into the barn," Eddy continued.

From BBC

Elsewhere a long table populated with party strategists, consultants and media figures such as Puck founding partner Baratunde Thurston and “The View” alumnus Abby Huntsman debated the merits of red and blue mirages, in front of a classic red barn.

From Salon

She came in the studio in my barn at home, she sang it once, and that’s 90% of the vocal you hear.

From Los Angeles Times

He created a look that would blend Americana silhouettes such as barn jackets but accent them with nods to his Chinese heritage.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• outbuilding
• shed