barrel
BARL
Barrel (noun) means a large, round wooden or metal container, usually bulging in the middle, used to store liquids or other goods. Example: “Rainwater ran from the roof into a barrel beside the shed.”
noun
1
A large, round wooden or metal container, usually bulging in the middle, used to store liquids or other goods.
"Rainwater ran from the roof into a barrel beside the shed."
"The wine had been aging in oak barrels for over a decade."
"They rolled the barrel of beer down the ramp into the cellar."
2
A unit of volume, especially for measuring oil.
"The refinery can process thousands of barrels of crude oil in a single day."
"Analysts watch the cost per barrel closely because it affects petrol prices."
"The price of oil rose to over ninety dollars a barrel."
3
The long metal tube of a gun through which a bullet travels.
"The instructor told us always to point the barrel down at the ground."
"She polished the barrel of the antique pistol before putting it in the museum case."
"He checked that the rifle's barrel was clean before loading it."
verb
1
To move very fast, often in an uncontrolled way.
"The children barrelled down the hill on their sledges, shrieking with laughter."
"I barrelled through the door, late for my own meeting."
"The truck came barreling down the highway well over the speed limit."
How to use barrel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large cylindrical container for liquids, a unit for measuring oil, the tube of a gun — or, as a verb, to move fast and out of control.
Common pairings
a barrel of oil
barrel down the road
gun barrel
oak barrel
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Word forms
- Plural
- barrels
- Third person singular
- barrels
- Past tense
- barreled, barrelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rainwater ran from the roof into a _____ beside the shed.
Etymology
From Middle English barel, via Anglo-Norman baril, of uncertain deeper origin — possibly linked to a Germanic word for a storage container, or to "bear" in the sense of carrying something.
Related words
Rhymes for barrel
See all rhymes for barrel →Frequently asked questions
What does “barrel” mean?
The word “barrel” means a large, round wooden or metal container, usually bulging in the middle, used to store liquids or other goods. In plain terms, a large cylindrical container for liquids, a unit for measuring oil, the tube of a gun — or, as a verb, to move fast and out of control.
How do you pronounce “barrel”?
“Barrel” is pronounced BARL (/ˈbæɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “barrel” in a sentence?
Here is “barrel” used in a sentence: “The wine had been aging in oak barrels for over a decade.”
What part of speech is “barrel”?
Depending on how it is used, “barrel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “barrel” come from?
The word “barrel” comes from Middle English. From Middle English barel, via Anglo-Norman baril, of uncertain deeper origin — possibly linked to a Germanic word for a storage container, or to "bear" in the sense of carrying something.
Is “barrel” a common word?
“Barrel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “barrel” have?
“Barrel” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, round wooden or metal container, usually bulging in the middle, used to store liquids or other goods.
What is the difference between a barrel and a cask?
Both a barrel and a cask are round containers used to store liquids, but cask is a broader term that covers vessels of many sizes, while barrel often refers to a specific standard size within that range. In brewing and distilling, cask is the general word and barrel names a particular capacity.
How much does a barrel of oil hold?
As a unit of volume for measuring oil, a standard barrel equals 42 US gallons, or about 159 litres. This is the figure used in oil-price reporting when prices are quoted "per barrel."
What does the phrase 'barrel of a gun' refer to?
Beyond the container sense, barrel also names the long tube-shaped part of a firearm through which a projectile travels. This meaning comes from the shape of the part rather than from a storage vessel.
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