baron

[ bar-uhn ]
See synonyms for baron on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a member of the lowest grade of nobility.

  2. (in Britain)

    • a feudal vassal holding his lands under a direct grant from the king.

    • a direct descendant of such a vassal or his equal in the nobility.

    • a member of the House of Lords.

  1. an important financier or industrialist, especially one with great power in a particular area:an oil baron.

  2. a cut of mutton or lamb comprising the two loins, or saddle, and the hind legs.

Origin of baron

1
1200–50; Middle English <Anglo-French, Old French <Late Latin barōn- (stemof barō) man <Germanic; sense “cut of beef” perhaps by analogy with the fanciful analysis of sirloin as “Sir Loin”

Words that may be confused with baron

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Other definitions for Baron (2 of 2)

Baron
[ ba-rawn ]

noun
  1. Mi·chel [mee-shel], /miˈʃɛl/, Michel Boyron, 1653–1729, French actor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use baron in a sentence

  • “This house must have been the hotel of some distinguished family, baron; it is nobly proportioned,” said David Arden.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • Monsieur,” growls the baron, “stone walls have ears, you say if only they had tongues; what tales these could tell!

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • It was true that his sight had grown accustomed to the obscurity, for he could now see the baron's features much more distinctly.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • The baron turned full upon him, and leaned his shoulders against the iron door of the recess.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • “But this is not a case of attending a patient, baron,” said David Arden, a little haughtily.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

British Dictionary definitions for baron

baron

/ (ˈbærən) /


noun
  1. a member of a specific rank of nobility, esp the lowest rank in the British Isles

  2. (in Europe from the Middle Ages) originally any tenant-in-chief of a king or other overlord, who held land from his superior by honourable service; a land-holding nobleman

  1. a powerful businessman or financier: a press baron

  2. English law (formerly) the title held by judges of the Court of Exchequer

  3. short for baron of beef

Origin of baron

1
C12: from Old French, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German baro freeman, Old Norse berjask to fight

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012