barley
BAH-lee
Barley (noun) means a cereal grain grown for food, animal feed, and brewing beer and whisky. Example: “The fields of barley swayed gold in the late-summer wind.”
noun
1
A cereal grain grown for food, animal feed, and brewing beer and whisky.
"The fields of barley swayed gold in the late-summer wind."
"Barley is a key ingredient in most beers."
"Her grandmother always added a handful of barley to the vegetable soup."
How to use barley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA grain crop used mainly for animal feed, food, and brewing.
Common pairings
pearl barley
barley field
malted barley
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Word forms
- Plural
- barleys
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The fields of _____ swayed gold in the late-summer wind.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for barley
See all rhymes for 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.
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