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

Examples of barn in a Sentence

They live in a big barn of a house.

Recent Examples on the Web

Excavations are conducted within the barn at a much slower and steadier pace than those in the '70s due in large part to the small, rotating number of seasonal employees—mostly college students—who excavate further each summer. —Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 7 July 2024

Listen to this article Every morning, Travis McManus, 50, wakes up around 5:30 and heads to a red barn on his Finksburg farm. —Lizzy Alspach, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024

At the time, the old mule barns had languished in disrepair for decades, and the empty street was used for parking. —Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2024

Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Wooden Barn Buy on Amazon $70 $55 Travel-friendly toys are always appreciated, and this foldable barn, complete with seven farm animals, a ladder, and fencing, is the perfect little toy to take to the grandparents’ house or playdates. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 2 July 2024

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

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