barn

barn · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large farm building used for storing grain, hay, or farm equipment, or for housing livestock.

  2. 2.

    (Informal) A large, plain, or unattractive building.

  3. 3.

    (Physics) A unit of area equal to 10^-24 square centimeters, used in nuclear physics.

Forms

plural: barns

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    barn door — A large door on a barn; also used to mean an easy target.
  • •
    barn owl — A type of owl that often nests in barns.
  • •
    born in a barn — Said of someone who leaves doors open.
  • •
    barn dance — A social dance held in a barn.

Related words

See also: farm, silo, stable
Synonyms: outbuilding, shed, stable

Etymology

From Old English bern, contraction of bereærn ("barley house"), from bere ("barley") + ærn ("house, building").