Main Entry:

¹bark

Pronunciation:

\ˈbärk\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English berken, from Old English beorcan; akin to Old Norse berkja to bark, Lithuanian burgėti to growl

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 a: to make the characteristic short loud cry of a dog b: to make a noise resembling a bark2: to speak in a curt loud and usually angry tone : snaptransitive verb1: to utter in a curt loud usually angry tone <an officer barking orders>2: to advertise by persistent outcry <barking their wares>

— bark up the wrong tree

: to promote or follow a mistaken course (as in doing research)