barbed wire

American  

noun

1. a wire or strand of wires having small pieces of sharply pointed wire twisted around it at short intervals, used chiefly for fencing in livestock, keeping out trespassers, etc.

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barbed wire British  

noun

1. Also called (US): barbwire.  strong wire with sharply pointed barbs at close intervals

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Etymology

Origin of barbed wire

First recorded in 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does barbed-wire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• razor wire vs. barbed wire

Example Sentences

The O’Smach building in which they were held was surrounded by high corrugated iron walls topped with barbed wire.

From The Wall Street Journal

Screwworms pose a serious threat to farm animals, especially those with common injuries from barbed wire, birthing, or procedures such as dehorning.

From Science Daily

The border itself is now marked by a tall metal fence, with a coil of vicious-looking barbed wire on top and more beyond.

From BBC

The Wall Street Journal has no way of verifying the stories of foreign fighters held here behind layers of barbed wire and high walls.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, Cambodia alleged that Thai soldiers initiated the conflict at around 06:30, when they violated a prior agreement by advancing on a Khmer-Hindu temple near the border and placing barbed wire around its base.

From BBC

Related Words

• fence
• fencing