Bar

Bar 1 NOUN 1. a long rigid piece of metal, or simiilar material, typically used as an obstruction, fastening, or a weapon. >a sand bank or shoal at the mouth of a harbour or an estuary. >(british) a metal strip below the clasp of a metal, awarded as an additional distinction. >(Heraldry) a charge in the form of a narrow stripe across the shield. 2. a counter in a public house or cafe across which alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served. >a room in a public house, resturant, or hotel in which alcohol is served. >a small shop or stall serving refreshments or providing a specified serivce: ex. a snack bar. 3. a barrier or restriction to action or advance: ex. a bar to promotion. >a plea arresting an action or claim in a law case 4. (Music) any of the short sections or measures in which a piece of music is divided, shown on a score with vertical lines acrose the stave. 5. (ex. the bar) a partition in a court room, now usually notional, beyond which most people may not pass and at which an accused person the stands. >(British) a rail marking the end of each chamber in the Houses of Parliament. 6. (ex. the Bar) the profession of the barrister. >(British) barristers collectively. >(North American) lawyers collectively. VERB (ex. barred, barring) 1. fasten with a bar or bars. 2. prohibit from doing something or going somewhere. >exclude from consideration. >(Law) prevent or delay (an action) by objection. 3. mark with bars or stripes. PREPOSITION (cheifly British) except for. >(British Horse Racing) except the horses indicated (used when stating the odds). bar none = with no exceptions. be called to the Bar = (British) be ammited to the barrister. be called within the Bar = (British) be appointed a Queen's Counsel. behind bars = in prison ORIGIN Middle English from Old French -barre(noun)-, -barrer (verb)-, of unknown origin. Bar 2 NOUN a unit of pressure equivalent to a hundred thousand newtons per square meter or approximately one atmosphere. ORIGIN Century 20: from Greek -baros: weight-