bar

1 noun (C)

1 PLACE TO DRINK IN

a) a place where alcoholic drinks are served

-compare pub

b) BrE one of the rooms inside a pub: the public bar was crowded

2 PLACE TO BUY DRINK a counter 1 (1) where alcoholic drinks are served: There were no free tables so they stood at the bar.

3 coffee/snack/salad etc bar a place where a particular kind of food or drink is served

4 BLOCK OF STH a small block of solid material that is longer than it is wide: a candy bar | a bar of soap

5 PIECE OF METAL/WOOD a length of metal or wood put across a door, window etc to keep it shut or to prevent people going in or out: A lot of houses had bars across the windows.

6 MUSIC a group of notes and rests (rest1 (12)), separated from other groups by vertical lines, into which a line of written music is divided: She hummed a few bars of the song.

7 a bar to (doing) sth something that prevents you from achieving something that you want: Bad English is a bar to getting a good job.

8 GROUP OF LAWYERS law

a) the bar BrE the group of people who are barristers (=lawyers who have the right to speak in a court of law)

b) AmE an organization consisting of people who are lawyers

9 be called to the bar

a) BrE to become a barrister

b) AmE to become a lawyer

10 PILE OF SAND/STONES a long pile of sand or stones under the water at the entrance to a harbour 1

11 COLOUR/LIGHT a narrow band of colour or light

12 UNIFORMS a narrow band of metal or cloth worn on a military uniform to show rank

13 HEATER the part of an electric heater that provides heat and has a red light

14 behind bars informal in prison

2 verb barred, barring

1 also bar up to shut a door or window using a bar or piece of wood so that people cannot get in or out

2 (T) to officially prevent someone from entering a place or from doing something: bar sb from: Members voted to bar women from the club.

3 to prevent people from going somewhere by placing something in their way: The road ahead was barred by a solid line of policemen. | bar sb's way (=prevent someone passing you by standing in front of them): A security guard barred her way.

3 preposition

1 formal except: No work's been done in the office today, bar a little typing.

2 bar none used to emphasize that someone is the best of a particular group: He's the most talented actor in the country, bar none.

-see also: barring