barrel
barrel Lexical Profile
barrel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A cylindrical container bulging out in the middle, traditionally made of wooden staves bound by metal hoops.
"The winery aged its finest red wine in a French oak barrel for three years to enhance its flavor."
A standard unit of volume or capacity, notably used in the petroleum industry where it is equal to 42 US gallons.
"Economic analysts noted that the price of crude oil had unexpectedly dropped by three dollars a barrel."
A cylindrical tube forming part of an object, such as the casing of a pen or the discharging tube of a firearm.
"She tapped the clear plastic barrel of her pen thoughtfully against her notebook."
• verb
To drive or move at a high speed, often in a reckless or uncontrolled manner.
"The runaway freight train came barreling down the steep mountain tracks toward the station."
To pack or store items, such as food or liquid, into a cylindrical container.
"The workers spent the entire afternoon barreling the freshly harvested apples for transport."
• Rhymes for barrel
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'barel', borrowed from Old French 'baril', whose further origins are uncertain but potentially of Celtic or Vulgar Latin extraction.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.