noun
barrack
BAR-uhk
Barrack (noun) means a large, plain building used to house soldiers or other groups of people. Example: “The new recruits were assigned bunks in the barrack nearest the parade ground.”
noun
1
A large, plain building used to house soldiers or other groups of people.
"The new recruits were assigned bunks in the barrack nearest the parade ground."
"Rows of identical barracks lined the edge of the base."
verb
1
To house someone in a barrack, or to live in one.
"The battalion was barracked just outside the city for the winter."
2
(chiefly British and Australian) To shout support for, or jeer at, a team or speaker.
"Fans barracked loudly for the home team from the stands."
How to use barrack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA basic building for housing people (often soldiers), or, in British/Australian English, to cheer loudly for a team.
UK vs US
The 'cheer for a team' sense is common in British and Australian English but rarely used in American English.
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Word forms
- Plural
- barracks
- Third person singular
- barracks
- Past tense
- barracked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new recruits were assigned bunks in the _____ nearest the parade ground.
Etymology
Borrowed from French baraque, itself from Spanish or Catalan barraca, of uncertain earlier origin.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “barrack” mean?
The word “barrack” means a large, plain building used to house soldiers or other groups of people. In plain terms, a basic building for housing people (often soldiers), or, in British/Australian English, to cheer loudly for a team.
How do you pronounce “barrack”?
“Barrack” is pronounced BAR-uhk (/ˈbæɹ.ək/ in IPA).
How do you use “barrack” in a sentence?
Here is “barrack” used in a sentence: “The new recruits were assigned bunks in the barrack nearest the parade ground.”
What part of speech is “barrack”?
Depending on how it is used, “barrack” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “barrack” come from?
The word “barrack” comes from French. Borrowed from French baraque, itself from Spanish or Catalan barraca, of uncertain earlier origin.
How many meanings does “barrack” have?
“Barrack” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, plain building used to house soldiers or other groups of people.
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