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Bar Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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bar

[bɑːr ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

place

A place where alcoholic drinks are served

Synonyms

pub, saloon, tavern.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bar

Used for a place that serves alcohol and often food, with a modern or urban vibe.

  • Let's meet at the new bar downtown after work.
  • He works as a bartender at a popular bar.
pub

Commonly used in British English for a place that serves alcohol and food, often with a cozy and traditional atmosphere.

  • We had lunch at a quaint pub in the countryside.
  • The pub was packed with locals watching the football match.
tavern

Used to describe an old-fashioned or medieval-style establishment that serves alcohol and food. It has a rustic and historical connotation.

  • The medieval festival featured a tavern that served traditional ale.
  • They opened a new tavern designed to look like an 18th-century inn.
saloon

Associated with old-fashioned or Western-style establishments, often found in historical settings or theme parks.

  • They filmed the movie scene inside an old frontier saloon.
  • The cowboy walked into the saloon and ordered a drink.

Examples of usage

  • Let's meet at the bar for a drink after work.
  • The bartender behind the bar was busy mixing cocktails.
Context #2 | Noun

measurement

A unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals

Synonyms

atmosphere, millibar, pascal.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bar

Use this when referring to a unit of pressure, commonly used in meteorology and physics.

  • The storm caused the atmospheric pressure to drop below 1 bar.
  • A standard bar is defined as 100,000 pascals.
atmosphere

This word is appropriate when discussing the mood or feeling of a place, as well as the layer of gases surrounding the Earth.

  • The restaurant had a cozy atmosphere.
  • Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, and other gases.
pascal

Use this in scientific contexts, particularly when discussing pressure. It is the SI unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square meter.

  • The pressure is 500 pascals.
  • Pascal's principle is fundamental in fluid mechanics.
millibar

This is a smaller unit of pressure, often used in weather forecasting and scientific measurements. It is equal to one-thousandth of a bar.

  • The weather report said the pressure was 1013 millibars.
  • They use millibars to track changes in atmospheric pressure.

Examples of usage

  • The pressure was recorded at 1.5 bars.
  • The tire pressure should be around 2.2 bars.
Context #3 | Verb

block

To prevent someone from entering a place by blocking their way

Synonyms

block, obstruct, prevent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bar

This usage refers to a place where alcoholic beverages are served.

  • Let's meet at the bar for a drink
  • He ordered a beer at the bar
block

Used when something is physically in the way, stopping movement or progress.

  • The fallen tree blocked the road
  • She used her hand to block the sunlight
obstruct

Used when something is deliberately placed or done to make it difficult for someone to move or see, often with a negative connotation.

  • The protesters tried to obstruct the traffic
  • His view was obstructed by a large hat
prevent

Used when you want to describe stopping something from happening in advance.

  • The vaccinations will help prevent the disease
  • They installed locks to prevent theft

Examples of usage

  • He tried to bar the door to keep the intruder out.
  • The security guard barred the entrance to unauthorized personnel.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'bar'

The word 'bar' originated from the Old French word 'barre' meaning 'rod, beam'. It was originally used to refer to a barrier or counter, which eventually evolved to also mean a place where alcoholic drinks are served. In terms of measurement, the use of 'bar' to denote pressure dates back to the early 20th century. As a verb, 'bar' has been used to mean 'block' since the 16th century.

See also: barb, barbel, barge, baron, barred, barrel, barrier, bars, rebar.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,426, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.