barley
1 synonym for barley, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A cereal grain grown for food, animal feed, and brewing beer and whisky.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use barley
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pearl barley
barley field
malted barley
Etymology
From Old English bærlīċ, originally an adjective meaning "barley-like," ultimately from a very old root related to "spike" or "prickle" — describing the grain's bristly seed head.
Full origin of barley →Frequently asked questions
What does “barley” mean?
The word “barley” means a cereal grain grown for food, animal feed, and brewing beer and whisky. In plain terms, a grain crop used mainly for animal feed, food, and brewing.
How do you pronounce “barley”?
“Barley” is pronounced BAH-lee (/ˈbɑɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “barley” in a sentence?
Here is “barley” used in a sentence: “The fields of barley swayed gold in the late-summer wind.”
What part of speech is “barley”?
“Barley” is a noun.
Where does the word “barley” come from?
The word “barley” comes from Old English. From Old English bærlīċ, originally an adjective meaning "barley-like," ultimately from a very old root related to "spike" or "prickle" — describing the grain's bristly seed head.
Is “barley” a common word?
“Barley” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
