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

The smaller barn, situated towards the back of the property, is primarily used for parties and other events, while the larger, two-story barn includes a vast open space, a bedroom and bath for guests or staff, and, upstairs, a lofted artist’s studio. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024

Some joked in the comments that his buddies back at the barn would never believe his story. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024

The virus can find its way into barns via dust particles or on the sole of a farmer’s boot. —Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Confetti dotted the floor, and children milled about onstage, inspecting a wooden barn. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

The last Black Crowes album, 2009’s Before the Frost…Until the Freeze, was recorded at Levon Helm’s barn in Woodstock, New York, and had a distinctly rustic period sound. —Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024

Heffernan’s 190-acre property was ravaged in the fire, which destroyed her home, her barn and her family’s timber. —Sydney Page, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

The property, some partially wooded 7.4 acres, includes a 9,000-square-foot pole barn with separate road access. —Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024

At 72, Goody is still out in the barn every morning at 4:15 feeding the horses. —Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 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 lot
• barn dance
• barn burner
• barn owl
• barn swallow
• barn raising

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