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Definition of barley
barley
/ˈbɑːrli/
bar · ley
Plural:barleys
barley Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
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• noun
1
The edible grain of the barley plant, commonly used in brewing beer, distilling spirits, and as a component of human food or animal fodder.
Example
"She added a handful of pearl barley to the vegetable stew to thicken the savory broth."
2
A widely cultivated cereal plant of the grass family (genus Hordeum), characterized by distinctive bristles on its flower heads and grown primarily in temperate climates.
Example
"The farmer planted a large field of winter barley to ensure an early harvest the following year."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for barley• Rhymes for barley
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Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'bærlic', originally an adjective meaning 'of barley', derived from 'bære' (barley) combined with the suffix '-lic' (like). It traces back to Proto-Germanic '*bariz', related to the Latin word 'far' meaning grain.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Barley. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/barley