bar

I UK [bɑː(r)] / US [bɑr] noun [countable]
Word forms "bar":
singular bar plural bars
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1) a place where you go to buy and drink alcoholic drinks

We met at Ernie's Bar.

a wine/cocktail bar

a) the counter where alcoholic drinks are served in a bar or pub

Whose turn is it to go to the bar (= to buy the drinks)?

b) British a room in a pub

c) a small place that serves a particular type of food

a sushi bar

a sandwich bar

2) a long narrow piece of metal

an old house with iron bars on the windows

The car's safety features include side-impact bars.

a) the long thin part of an electric fire that becomes red and produces heat

b) computing a long narrow shape along one of the sides of a window on a computer screen

Use the scroll bar to move up and down the page.

There's a quick-access menu bar below the top menu.

c) the long piece of wood or metal across the top of the goal in football and similar sports

Owen's shot hit the bar and ended up in the crowd.

3) a solid block of a substance such as chocolate or soap

a chocolate bar

bar of:

a bar of soap

4) music one of the sections in a line of music. Each bar contains several notes.

5)

a) something that prevents another thing from happening

bar to:

We have to ensure that a person's ethnic background is no bar to success in the workplace.

b) an order stating that something is not allowed

bar on:

The ruling placed a bar on any mention of the facts in the media.

6) the bar

legal the profession of being a barrister (= a lawyer who has the right to speak in a higher court of law). If someone is called to the bar, they become a barrister.

•

- behind bars

II UK [bɑː(r)] / US [bɑr] verb [transitive]
Word forms "bar":
present tense I/you/we/they bar he/she/it bars present participle barring past tense barred past participle barred
**

1) [often passive] to officially say that something must not happen, or that someone must not do something or go somewhere

The new rule bars the export of live animals.

bar someone from (doing) something:

It was an old-fashioned club from which women were barred.

He has been barred from running for political office for five years.

2)

a) to put something across a door or window so that no one can get through it

Bar the door and don't let anyone in.

b) to prevent someone from going somewhere by standing in their way

Guards were everywhere, barring all exits.

bar someone's way/path:

There were three vicious-looking dogs barring our way.

See:

barring

III UK [bɑː(r)] / US [bɑr] preposition British

used after words such as "all", "every", and "any" to mean "except"

Oxford city centre is closed to all traffic bar buses and taxis.

•

- bar none