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

This image was shot in Bloomington, Indiana at a farm called Whippoorwill Hill, where the comet emerged about a half hour after sunset, before quickly setting behind the barn pictured here. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024

Bruce found his bloody arrow, then left the area and walked to a barn to wait for his dad before tracking the deer. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 20 Dec. 2024

Task 1: Hope needs to swallow her pride and ask her ex-husband Roland to accept Sugar at his ranch so the barn is free for the festivities. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

Photo : Sidekick Creative Agency The barn includes seven stalls. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2024

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