# bar /ˈbɑɹ/ (US) · /bˈɑː/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bar Updated: 2026-06-19 ## Senses ### 1. drinking establishment noun · CEFR A2 a place where people buy and drink alcoholic beverages. For teachers: a commercial establishment or counter where alcoholic beverages are served for consumption on the premises. - We met at a small bar near the station for a quick drink before dinner. - The hotel bar remains open until midnight for residents, though the main lounge closes much earlier. ### 2. solid block noun · CEFR A2 a solid, rectangular piece of something, like chocolate or soap. For teachers: a solid, typically cuboid or cylindrical mass of a substance. - He bought a large bar of dark chocolate to share with his friends. - The artisan soap was sold in a heavy bar, wrapped in recycled paper and tied with twine. ### 3. metal/wood rod noun · CEFR B1 a long, straight piece of metal or wood. For teachers: a rigid, straight length of metal, wood, or other material, often used as a structural component or barrier. - The windows were reinforced with iron bars for extra security. - The gymnast gripped the horizontal bar firmly before beginning her routine. ### 4. the legal profession noun · CEFR C1 · Formal the profession of being a lawyer, or the exam you must pass to become one. For teachers: the legal profession collectively, or the qualifying examination for admission to practice law. - After years of study, she finally passed the bar and became a lawyer. - The ethics committee of the state bar association is currently reviewing the conduct of the defence attorney. ### 5. standard or level noun · CEFR B2 a level of quality or success that people expect. For teachers: a standard or level of expectation against which something is measured. - The new smartphone has set a high bar for its competitors. - By achieving record profits this quarter, the CEO has raised the bar for the entire executive team. ### 6. signal strength noun · CEFR B1 the small lines on a phone screen that show how strong the signal is. For teachers: one of several vertical symbols on a digital display indicating signal strength or battery life. - I can't make a call right now because I only have one bar of signal. - The technician noted that despite having four bars of signal, the data transfer rate remained unacceptably slow. ### 7. music section noun · CEFR B2 a small section of music, separated by a vertical line. For teachers: a rhythmic unit in musical notation, delimited by vertical lines on the staff. - The pianist played the first few bars of the song to get everyone's attention. - The conductor asked the woodwind section to repeat the passage starting from the twelfth bar. ### 8. to prevent or block verb · CEFR B2 to officially stop someone from doing something or entering a place. For teachers: to exclude or prohibit someone from an activity or place; to obstruct a passage. - He was barred from the club after he started a fight. - The new regulations effectively bar foreign investors from purchasing residential property in the city centre. ### 9. except for preposition · CEFR C1 · Formal except for; not including. For teachers: excluding or excepting a specific person or thing. - It was a perfect day, bar a few clouds in the afternoon. - The project was completed on schedule, bar a few minor technical issues that were resolved within the week. ### 10. unit of pressure noun · CEFR C2 · Technical a scientific unit used to measure how much pressure there is in the air or water. For teachers: a metric unit of pressure equal to 100,000 pascals, approximately equivalent to atmospheric pressure at sea level. - The diver checked his gauge to ensure the pressure was below two bars. - The laboratory equipment was designed to withstand a maximum internal pressure of five hundred bars. ## Examples - Let's meet at the bar for a drink. - The hotel has a rooftop bar with a great view of the city. - He sat alone at the polished mahogany bar, slowly nursing a single glass of whiskey while the evening crowd grew louder around him. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.