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

Updated with reclaimed barn wood to give the interior a warmer, more rustic feel, Belmont is part taphouse, part restaurant — and all welcoming. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2025

The class culminates in a family-style meal around barn wood tables. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025

Twice a year, the lawn at the barn hosts dozens of vendors at its Sweet Violet's Vintage Market. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025

Burberry’s floral barn jacket, over-the-knee boots and fringe dress. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 25 Feb. 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

Rhymes for barn

• arn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn
• yarn

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