noun Uncommon

barb

bahb

Barb (noun) means a sharp point angled backward on an arrow, hook, or wire, designed to make it hard to pull out. Example: “The fishhook's barb kept it firmly lodged in the fish's mouth.”

noun

A sharp point angled backward on an arrow, hook, or wire, designed to make it hard to pull out.

"The fishhook's barb kept it firmly lodged in the fish's mouth."

A sharp, cutting remark meant to hurt or provoke.

"She fired off a few barbs about his driving before he even started the car."

Any of various small freshwater fish with whisker-like barbels near the mouth.

"The aquarium tank was stocked with tiger barbs."

verb

To fit something with barbs.

"The fence was barbed with wire along the top."

How to use barb

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLiterally a backward-pointing spike (as on a hook or wire); figuratively, a stinging remark.

Common pairings

barbed wire a barb aimed at trade barbs

Word forms

barbed past tense, barbed past tense, barbs plural, barbs plural, barbs plural, barbs plural, Barbz plural, Barbs plural, barbs singular, barbs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “barb” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The fishhook's _____ kept it firmly lodged in the fish's mouth.

Etymology

From Old French barbe ("beard"), from Latin barba — the same root as "beard" and "barber."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

shot dig slam shaft jibe gibe

Related words

hit chance shot opportunity photo shut ray strike

Rhymes for barb

garb

See all rhymes for barb →

Frequently asked questions

What does “barb” mean?

The word “barb” means a sharp point angled backward on an arrow, hook, or wire, designed to make it hard to pull out. In plain terms, literally a backward-pointing spike (as on a hook or wire); figuratively, a stinging remark.

How do you pronounce “barb”?

“Barb” is pronounced bahb (/bɑː(ɹ)b/ in IPA).

How do you use “barb” in a sentence?

Here is “barb” used in a sentence: “The fishhook's barb kept it firmly lodged in the fish's mouth.”

What part of speech is “barb”?

Depending on how it is used, “barb” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “barb” come from?

The word “barb” comes from Latin. From Old French barbe ("beard"), from Latin barba — the same root as "beard" and "barber.".

Is “barb” a common word?

“Barb” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “barb” have?

“Barb” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sharp point angled backward on an arrow, hook, or wire, designed to make it hard to pull out.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include barb:

Words that end with B

People also searched

hit chance shot opportunity photo shut ray strike