barn

noun

ˈbärn 

1

a

: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment

b

: an unusually large and usually bare building

a great barn of a hotel

—W. A. White

2

: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)

barnlike

ˈbärn-ˌlīk 

adjective

barny

ˈbär-nē 

adjective

Examples of barn in a Sentence

They live in a big barn of a house.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jennifer Lopez swapped her recent faux furs for the winter version of fall’s favorite barn jacket during a recent trip to Aspen, Colorado. —Alyssa Brascia, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025

Three horses died in the fire that destroyed most of a barn near South 82nd Street and Richland Avenue, said Krystal McFeders, a spokesperson for the United Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025

O’Leary left the lantern in the barn and the cow kicked it over and started the fire. —Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025

The mother went to the school’s barn, found Willie suffering and took Willie to a veterinary clinic. —Hank Sanders, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing barn

• barn burner
• barn dance
• barn lot
• barn owl
• barn raising
• barn swallow

Kids Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a unit of area equal to 10⁻²⁴ square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section