bar

Ⅰ.

bar [1] ► NOUN 1) a long rigid piece of wood, metal, etc. 2) a counter, room, or place where alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served. 3) a small shop or counter serving refreshments or providing a service: a snack bar. 4) a barrier or obstacle. 5) any of the short units into which a piece of music is divided, shown on a score by vertical lines. 6) (the bar) a partition in a court room, now usually imaginary, at which an accused person stands. 7) (the Bar) the profession of barrister. 8) (the Bar) barristers or (N. Amer. ) lawyers collectively. 9) Brit. a metal strip added to a medal as an additional distinction.

► VERB (barred, barring) 1) fasten with a bar or bars. 2) prohibit from doing something or going somewhere.

► PREPOSITION chiefly Brit. ▪ except for.

● be called (or go) to the Bar — Cf. ↑be go to the Bar

● behind bars — Cf. ↑behind bars

DERIVATIVES barred adjective.

ORIGIN Old French barre.

Ⅱ.

bar [2] ► NOUN ▪ a unit of pressure equivalent to a hundred thousand newtons per square metre.

ORIGIN Greek baros 'weight' .