bark

verb (1)

\ ˈbärk

How to pronounce bark (audio)

\

barked; barking; barks

Definition of bark

(Entry 1 of 5)

intransitive verb

1a : to make the characteristic short loud cry of a dog

b : to make a noise resembling a bark

2 : to speak in a curt loud and usually angry tone : snap

3 informal : to produce a usually sharp, sudden pain … at 36 and with his mustache turning gray and his body barking back in pain, Luis DeLeon is in spring training with the Cubs.— Joseph A. Reaves The shoulder is pain-free for now, but his elbow barks at him occasionally …— Mike Lupica

transitive verb

1 : 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)

bark

noun (1)

Definition of bark (Entry 2 of 5)

1a : the sound made by a barking dog

b : a similar sound

2 : a short sharp peremptory tone of speech or utterance

someone's bark is worse than his/her bite

—used to say that someone known for harsh or angry speech does not actually treat others in an unfairly harsh or harmful way Chairman Paul Millership was larger than life and shouted his orders loud and clear. But his bark was worse than his bite and he was scrupulously fair to employees who put in the effort.— The Nottingham Evening Post

bark

noun (2)

Definition of bark (Entry 3 of 5)

1 : the tough exterior covering of a woody root or stem specifically : the tissues outside the cambium that include an inner layer especially of secondary phloem and an outer layer of periderm

2 : cinchona sense 2

3 : a candy containing chocolate and nuts that is made in a sheet and broken into pieces

bark

verb (2)

barked; barking; barks

Definition of bark (Entry 4 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to treat with an infusion of tanbark

2a : to strip the bark from

b : to rub off or abrade the skin of barked a shin on the desk

bark

noun (3)

variants: or barque

Definition of bark (Entry 5 of 5)

1a : a small sailing ship

b : a sailing ship of three or more masts with the aftmost mast fore-and-aft rigged and the others square-rigged

2 : a craft propelled by sails or oars

Synonyms Phrases Containing bark Learn More About bark

Synonyms for bark

Synonyms: Verb (1)

snap,
snarl

Synonyms: Verb (2)

Synonyms: Noun (3)

First Known Use of bark

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for bark

Verb (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old Norse bark-, bǫrkr; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German borke bark

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Middle French barque, from Old Occitan barca, from Late Latin

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Cite this Entry

“Bark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bark. Accessed 4 Oct. 2022.

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More Definitions for bark

bark

verb

\ ˈbärk

\

barked; barking

Kids Definition of bark

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : to make the short loud cry of a dog or like a dog's

2 : to shout or speak sharply The captain barked orders at the soldiers.

bark

noun

Kids Definition of bark (Entry 2 of 5)

: the sound made by a barking dog or a similar sound

bark

noun

Kids Definition of bark (Entry 3 of 5)

: the outside covering of the trunk, branches, and roots of a tree

bark

noun

variants: or barque \ ˈbärk \

Kids Definition of bark (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : a small sailing boat

2 : a three-masted ship with foremast and mainmast square-rigged

bark

verb

barked; barking

Kids Definition of bark (Entry 5 of 5)

: to rub or scrape the skin off He barked his shins.

bark

noun

\ ˈbärk

\

Medical Definition of bark

1 : the tough exterior covering of a woody root or stem

2 : cinchona sense 3

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