barn

noun

ˈbärn 

1

a

: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment

b

: an unusually large and usually bare building

a great barn of a hotel

—W. A. White

2

: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)

barnlike

ˈbärn-ˌlīk 

adjective

barny

ˈbär-nē 

adjective

Example Sentences

They live in a big barn of a house.

Recent Examples on the Web

The kind-natured, elderly horse graciously accepted my gentle strokes and gobbled up those treats as the eight other horses in the barn watched. —The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2023

Up to two guests can sleep here, while indoor showers and bathrooms are located in the property's barn. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023

Last Thursday, the Home Town designer showed off the progress on their home gym that Ben has been building in their barn. —Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2023

Deputies found Gutierrez in the barn with Mireles’ body, Steffen said. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2023

Cosby ran outside a few times to check the pipes inside his family barn. —John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Feb. 2023

The two lived in Davenport’s barn with a third elephant, Boo, which had been in his family for four decades. —Matthew Ormsethstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023

Inside his barn, Mr. Zveryshyn stands atop a mountain of sunflower seeds, illuminated by light through an empty roof. —Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Jan. 2023

A couple who own a nearby farm counted more than 60 raccoons inside their cattle feeder one night a few years ago and more atop the rafters of their barn—like pigeons lined up on a telephone wire, Mr. Crow says. —Joe Barrett, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing barn

• barn owl
• barn lot
• barn swallow
• barn dance
• barn raising
• barn burner

• barn owl
• barn lot
• barn swallow
• barn dance
• barn raising
• barn burner

Kids Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a unit of area equal to 10⁻²⁴ square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section