# barley

/ˈbɑɹɫi/ (US) · /bˈɑːli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/barley
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the grain/plant

noun · CEFR B2

a cereal plant that produces grain used for making flour, beer, and animal food.

For teachers: a hardy cereal plant (Hordeum vulgare) that produces grain used as a food staple and as a source of malt for brewing and distilling.

- The farmer harvested the barley in late summer to sell to the local brewery.
- Barley is a versatile crop that thrives in cooler climates where other cereal grains might struggle to produce a consistent yield.

### 2. food ingredient

noun · CEFR B2

the small, hard seeds of the barley plant used in cooking, especially in soups.

For teachers: the processed grains of the barley plant, often pearled, used as a culinary ingredient for its chewy texture and nutty flavour.

- She added a handful of barley to the vegetable soup to make it more filling.
- The chef recommended using pearl barley instead of rice to provide a more robust texture to the winter broth.

## Examples

- We eat barley soup on cold days.
- The farmer harvested the barley before the autumn rains arrived.
- Ancient civilizations relied on barley as a staple crop, using it to bake flatbreads and brew early forms of alcoholic beverages.

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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.