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

Tender beef, hearty barley, and fresh vegetables make this dish nourishing and delicious. —Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024

Whole grains like quinoa, rye, oats, barley, and brown rice provide complex carbohydrates that are digested more slowly. —Ana Morales, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2024

The most common food allergies are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, wheat, spelt, rye, barley, soy, red meat, and sesame. —Daniel More, Health, 24 Oct. 2024

Include grains such as quinoa, barley, and millet in your meals. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024

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

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