barley

noun

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

Examples of barley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Glacier Express distinguishes itself with train windows that offer sweeping panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and a gastronomic menu featuring local dishes like barley soup and Graubünden salami and mountain cheese. —John Kell, Fortune, 10 July 2025

The British only drinks list is just as unique, featuring English natural wines, house kombuchas, and roasted barley tea. —Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

Instructions: 1 – Mix water, sugar, yeast and barley malt syrup. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2025

But replacing barley malt with rice still might strike some beer aficionados as sacrilege. —ArsTechnica, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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