ENGLISH
REFERENCE

crowbar

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈkɹoʊˌbɑɹ// UK //kɹˈəʊbɑː// crow·bar

n. a long, heavy metal tool with a curved end. You use it to pry things open, like a stuck door or a heavy lid.

n. a long, heavy metal bar with a curved or hooked end, used for prying objects apart or lifting heavy weights.


SIMPLE

He used a crowbar to open the heavy wooden crate.

CONTEXTUAL

The firefighters used a crowbar to break the door open after the hinges became stuck during the rescue.

COMPLEX

While modern tools offer more precision, the crowbar remains an essential piece of equipment for any construction worker dealing with heavy timber or stubborn structural barriers.

Synonyms
Origin

From crow (“crow (bird)" also "metal lever, crowbar”) + bar, probably because the forked end looks like a crow's foot.

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