- Definition
- Definition
- Example Sentences
- Word History
- Phrases Containing
- Related Articles
- Entries Near
-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
: a cereal grass (genus Hordeum and especially H. vulgare) having the flowers in dense spikes with long awns and three spikelets at each joint of the rachis
also
: its seed used especially in malt beverages, breakfast foods, and stock feeds
Examples of barley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall affect the growth of essential grains like corn and barley, potentially leading to shortages and higher costs.
—Rachel King, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Their goal with the beer baths, which allow the user to soak in a cedar hydrotherapy tub filled with a blend of hops, barley, and herbs designed to maximize hair, skin, and mind benefits, is to break the stigma that spa treatments are just for women.
—Sara Hansen, The Denver Post, 19 Dec. 2024
Crown Royal, which is owned by drinks giant Diageo, is produced at a large distillery in Gimli, Manitoba (and a smaller one in Quebec), where five different styles of whisky are made from grains like corn, rye, and barley on pot and column stills.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024
Final harvest numbers aren’t fully tallied yet, but the year’s harvest for local agriculture, including key products like corn, wheat and barley, seems variable too, said Shannon Dill, principal agent at the University of Maryland Extension in Talbot County.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for barley
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English barly, from Old English bærlic of barley; akin to Old English bere barley, Latin far spelt
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of barley was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing barley
Articles Related to barley
Dictionary Entries Near barley
Cite this Entry
“Barley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barley. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
barley
noun
bar·ley
ˈbär-lē
: a cereal grass with flowers in dense spikes
also
: its seed used especially in malt beverages, in foods (as soups and cereals), or as feed for livestock
Medical Definition
barley
noun
bar·ley
ˈbär-lē
: a cereal grass (genus Hordeum, especially H. vulgare) having the flowers in dense spikes with long awns
also
: its seed used in malt beverages and in breakfast foods and stock feeds
More from Merriam-Webster on barley
Nglish: Translation of barley for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of barley for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barley
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share