# Barr

/ˈbɑɹ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/barr
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. sound of an elephant

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to make the loud noise that an elephant makes.

For teachers: to produce the characteristic vocalisation of an elephant; now entirely obsolete in contemporary usage.

- The old book described how the great beast would barr in the jungle.
- The natural history text from the seventeenth century used the verb 'barr' to describe the trumpeting of elephants encountered in the wild.

Teaching tip: This sense is extremely rare and only appears in historical literature; modern speakers use 'trumpet'.

## Examples

- The lawyer delivered a powerful barr to the jury.
- The barr lasted three hours and covered every detail of the contract dispute.
- In eighteenth-century courts, the barr was a theatrical performance, requiring the advocate to master both legal precedent and rhetorical flourish.

---

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.