barley

1 of 2

noun (1)

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: a cereal grass (genus Hordeum and especially H. vulgare) having the flowers in dense spikes with long awns and three spikelets at each joint of the rachis

also : its seed used especially in malt beverages, breakfast foods, and stock feeds

barley coal

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly barley

: anthracite coal of a small size : number 3 buckwheat coal

Examples of barley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ukraine and Russia are both major global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food that developing nations rely on. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

The viscous formula is powered by four plant ferments (soybean, barley, pomegranate, and Korean pear, to name a few) and works wonders to rejuvenate skin in a single use. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026

Legumes like crimson clover and hairy vetch fix nitrogen, while cereals like winter rye and barley enhance soil structure. — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2026

MILKist led the initial research and technical formulation, striving to make a sufficiently strong sheet from 100 percent barley straw without adding other fibers or binders. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English barly, from Old English bærlic of barley; akin to Old English bere barley, Latin far spelt

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing barley

• barley-bree
• barley-broo
• barley sugar
• barley wine

Rhymes for barley

• charley
• charlie
• marly
• bizarrely

Kids Definition

barley

noun

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: a cereal grass with flowers in dense spikes

also : its seed used especially in malt beverages, in foods (as soups and cereals), or as feed for livestock

Medical Definition

barley

noun

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: a cereal grass (genus Hordeum, especially H. vulgare) having the flowers in dense spikes with long awns

also : its seed used in malt beverages and in breakfast foods and stock feeds