barren

¹bar·ren

adjective \ˈber-ən, ˈba-rən\

Definition of BARREN

1

: not reproducing: as

a : incapable of producing offspring —used especially of females or matings

b : not yet or not recently pregnant

c : habitually failing to fruit

2

: not productive: as

a : producing little or no vegetation : desolate <barren deserts>

b : producing inferior crops <barren soil>

c : unproductive of results or gain : fruitless <a barren scheme>

3

: devoid, lacking —used with of <barren of excitement>

4

: lacking interest or charm <a barren routine>

5

: lacking inspiration or ideas <a barren mind>

— bar·ren·ly adverb

— bar·ren·ness \-ə(n)-nəs\ noun

Examples of BARREN

1. Few creatures can thrive on these barren mountaintops.
2. The book was good, but I found the barren lives of the characters depressing.

Origin of BARREN

Middle English bareine, from Anglo-French barain, perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Welsh brynar fallow land

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to BARREN

Synonyms

bony (also boney), dead, desolate, hardscrabble, impoverished, infertile, poor, stark, unfertile, unproductive, waste

Antonyms

fertile, fruitful, lush, luxuriant, productive, rich

Related Words

bleak, inhospitable, lifeless; uncultivable, untillable; bankrupted, consumed, debilitated, depleted, diminished, drained, dried-up, enfeebled, exhausted, expended, lessened, reduced, spent, used up; arid, desert, droughty, dry, rainless, sere (also sear), thirsty, waterless; baked, dehydrated, parched, sunbaked

Near Antonyms

arable, tillable; green, sylvan, verdant

See Synonym Discussion at bare

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with BARREN

baron, garron

²barren

noun

Definition of BARREN

1

plural : an extent of usually level land having an inferior growth of trees or little vegetation

2

: a tract of barren land

Examples of BARREN

1. <lived out in the barrens where it was impossible to grow anything>

First Known Use of BARREN

1651

Related to BARREN

Synonyms

wasteland, desert, desolation, heath, no-man's-land, waste

Related Words

badland; brush, bush; dust bowl; open, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors; nature, wild, wilderness

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

bar·ren

adjective \ˈbar-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of BARREN

: incapable of producing offspring—used especially of females or matings

—bar·ren·ness \-ən-nəs\ (audio pronunciation) noun