bark
1the abrupt, harsh, explosive cry of a dog.
a similar sound made by another animal, as a fox.
a short, explosive sound, as of firearms: the bark of a revolver.
a brusque order, reply, etc.: The foreman's bark sent the idlers back to their machines.
a cough.
(of a dog or other animal) to utter an abrupt, explosive cry or a series of such cries.
to make a similar sound: The big guns barked.
to speak or cry out sharply or gruffly: a man who barks at his children.
Informal. to advertise a theater performance, carnival sideshow, or the like, by standing at the entrance and calling out to passersby.
to cough.
to utter in a harsh, shouting tone: barking orders at her subordinates.
Idioms about bark
bark at the moon, to protest in vain: Telling her that she's misinformed is just barking at the moon.
bark up the wrong tree, to assail or pursue the wrong person or object; misdirect one's efforts: If he expects me to get him a job, he's barking up the wrong tree.
Origin of bark
1Other words for bark
Other words from bark
- barkless, adjective
Other definitions for bark (2 of 3)
the external covering of the woody stems, branches, and roots of plants, as distinct and separable from the wood itself.
Tanning. a mixture of oak and hemlock barks.
candy, usually of chocolate with large pieces of nuts, made in flat sheets.
Origin of bark
2Other words from bark
- barkless, adjective
Other definitions for bark (3 of 3)
or barque
Nautical. a sailing vessel having three or more masts, square-rigged on all but the aftermost mast, which is fore-and-aft-rigged.
Literary. a boat or sailing vessel.
Origin of bark
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bark in a sentence
There is a famous Arab saying that the dog barks but the caravan moves on.
“Here, hold this,” he barks, handing me the back end of the writhing monster.
The only problem, she says, comes when her dog barks during a business call.
After a few loud, prolonged barks, which brought no one to his aid, Leo concluded he must take care of the man himself.
Minnie's Pet Dog | Madeline LeslieTannin is also important and is employed to some extent in the Philippines, being generally obtained from the mangrove tan barks.
Philippine Mats | Hugo H. Miller
A moment later there were a series of sharp snarling barks and the boy was filled with sudden alarm.
The Red Cow and Her Friends | Peter McArthurThe accompanying barks were probably involuntary, but they were a great help in astonishing and impressing the natives.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont | Louis de RougemontThe red and yellow cinchona barks are scarcely ever used for making extracts.
British Dictionary definitions for bark (1 of 3)
/ (bɑːk) /
the loud abrupt usually harsh or gruff cry of a dog or any of certain other animals
a similar sound, such as one made by a person, gun, etc
his bark is worse than his bite he is bad-tempered but harmless
(intr) (of a dog or any of certain other animals) to make its typical loud abrupt cry
(intr) (of a person, gun, etc) to make a similar loud harsh sound
to say or shout in a brusque, peremptory, or angry tone: he barked an order
US informal to advertise (a show, merchandise, etc) by loudly addressing passers-by
bark up the wrong tree informal to misdirect one's attention, efforts, etc; be mistaken
Origin of bark
1British Dictionary definitions for bark (2 of 3)
/ (bɑːk) /
a protective layer of dead corky cells on the outside of the stems of woody plants
any of several varieties of this substance that can be used in tanning, dyeing, or in medicine
an informal name for cinchona
to scrape or rub off skin, as in an injury
to remove the bark or a circle of bark from (a tree or log)
to cover or enclose with bark
to tan (leather), principally by the tannins in barks
Origin of bark
2British Dictionary definitions for bark (3 of 3)
/ (bɑːk) /
a variant spelling (esp US) of barque
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
Scientific definitions for bark
[ bärk ]
The protective outer covering of the trunk, branches, and roots of trees and other woody plants. Bark includes all tissues outside the vascular cambium. In older trees, bark is usually divided into inner bark, consisting of living phloem, and outer bark, consisting of the periderm (the phelloderm, cork cambium, and cork) and all the tissues outside it. The outer bark is mainly dead tissue that protects the tree from heat, cold, insects, and other dangers. The appearance of bark varies according to the manner in which the periderm forms, as in broken layers or smoother rings. Bark also has lenticels, porous corky areas that allow for the exchange of water vapor and gases with the interior living tissues.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with bark
In addition to the idioms beginning with bark
- bark is worse than his bite
- bark up the wrong tree
also see:
- talk one's arm off (the bark off a tree)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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