barrel

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /bɛrəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular barrel

Plural barrels

A drawing of a barrel

1. (countable) A barrel is a tall and round container.
2. (countable) A barrel is the amount of something that is in a full barrel, or that would fit in the barrel. For example, a barrel of water or a barrel of beer.
3. (countable) The barrel of a gun is the part the bullet goes through.
4. (countable) The barrel of a clarinet is the part you connect the mouth piece.
5. (countable) The barrel of a horse or pony is its ribs.
6. (countable) A barrel is a solid metal tube that may be part of some machines.

Related words and phrases

• barrel of monkeys
• barrel roll
• like shooting fish in a barrel
• lock, stock, and barrel
• over a barrel

Verb

Plain form barrel

Third-person singular barrels

Past tense barrelled

Past participle barrelled

Present participle barrelling

1. (intransitive) If you barrel, you move very quickly.