barley

noun

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: 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

This compound is found in foods such as almonds, walnuts, corn, wheat, rice, barley, oats, and legumes.4 Oxalates. —Christina Manian, Health, 15 Feb. 2025

This certainly includes oats but can also be made of quinoa, freekeh, rice, barley, farro, buckwheat or any number of other grains. —Tammy Algood, The Tennessean, 10 Feb. 2025

Second course: Roasted cauliflower bisque, beef and barley soup, balsamic roasted beet salad or the Famed Wedge. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2025

Look for whole grains like wheat, oats, or barley as the first ingredient. —Sarah Garone, Health, 23 Jan. 2025

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

Phrases Containing barley

• barley-bree
• barley-broo
• barley sugar
• barley wine

Rhymes for barley

• charley
• charlie
• marly
• bizarrely

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