ENGLISH
REFERENCE

barrel

n. · v.
US //ˈbæɹəɫ// UK //bˈæɹəl// bar·rel
  1. 1 a container (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a large, round container made of wood or metal, used for storing liquids like oil, wine, or beer.

    a cylindrical vessel, traditionally made of wooden staves and hoops, used for the storage and aging of liquids.

    Example

    The wine was left to age in an oak barrel for several years.

    Example

    Distilleries often reuse charred oak barrels to impart a specific smoky flavour profile to the maturing spirit.
  2. 2 part of a gun (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the metal tube of a gun that the bullet travels through when it is fired.

    the metallic tube of a firearm or cannon through which a projectile is discharged.

    Example

    The soldier spent the afternoon cleaning the barrel of his rifle.

    Example

    The rifling inside the barrel induces a spin on the bullet, significantly improving the weapon's accuracy over long distances.
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  1. 3 a unit of measure (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a specific amount of liquid, usually used when talking about the price of oil.

    a standard unit of volume for various liquids, most notably used in the international petroleum industry.

    Example

    The price of a barrel of oil rose sharply after the news of the strike.

    Example

    Economists monitored the cost per barrel closely, as fluctuations in energy prices typically precede broader inflationary trends.
  2. 4 surfing wave (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Sport

    a wave that curls over as it breaks, creating a hollow space like a tube.

    a hollow, tube-like space formed by a breaking wave, highly sought after by surfers.

    Example

    The surfer disappeared into the barrel and came out the other side.

    Example

    Riding deep inside the barrel requires precise board control and a keen understanding of the wave's velocity.
  3. 5 to move fast (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to move very fast, often in a way that seems dangerous or out of control.

    to move at high speed and with great force, often implying a lack of precision or control.

    Example

    The truck came barreling down the hill toward the intersection.

    Example

    The storm clouds were barreling across the plains, forcing the farmers to seek immediate shelter before the hail began.

    Usage

    Often used with 'down' or 'along'.
  4. 6 to bulge (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    to curve outward in the middle like the shape of a barrel.

    to exhibit a convex distortion where the sides of an image or object bulge outwards.

    Example

    The wide-angle lens caused the edges of the photo to barrel slightly.

    Example

    Software corrections are often necessary to rectify the barrel distortion inherent in low-cost wide-angle optics.
Origin

From Middle English barel, from Anglo-Norman baril, Old French baril, bareil (“barrel”), of uncertain origin. An attempt to link baril to Old French barre (“bar, bolt”) (compare Medieval Latin barra (“bar, rod”)) via assumed Vulgar Latin barrīculum meets the phonological requirement, but fails to connect the word semantically. The alternative connection to Frankish baril, beril or Gothic 𐌱𐌴𐍂𐌹𐌻𐍃 (bērils, “container for transport”), from Proto-Germanic barilaz, bērilaz (“barrel, jug, container”), from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- (“to carry, transport”), is more plausible as it connects not only the form of the word but also the sense; equivalent to bear + -le. Compare also Old High German biril (“jug, large pot”), Luxembourgish Bärel, Bierel (“jug, pot”), Old Norse berill (“barrel for liquids”), Old English byrla (“barrel of a horse, trunk, body”). More at bear.

Idioms3 entries

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