barn

¹

[bahrn]

noun

1. a building for storing hay, grain, etc., and often for housing livestock.

2. a very large garage for buses, trucks, etc.; carbarn.

verb (used with object)

1. to store (hay, grain, etc.) in a barn.

barn

²

[bahrn]

noun

Physics.

1. a unit of nuclear cross section, equal to 10 −24 square centimeter. b

barn

¹

/ bɑːn /

noun

1. a large farm outbuilding, used chiefly for storing hay, grain, etc, but also for housing livestock

2. a large shed for sheltering railroad cars, trucks, etc

3. any large building, esp an unattractive one

4. (modifier) relating to a system of poultry farming in which birds are allowed to move freely within a barn

   barn eggs

barn

²

/ bɑːn /

noun

1. b. a unit of nuclear cross section equal to 10 ^{– 28} square metre

Other Word Forms

• barnlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of barn¹

before 950; Middle English bern, Old English berern ( bere ( barley ¹ ) + ern, ǣrn house, cognate with Old Frisian fīaern cowhouse, Old High German erin, Gothic razn, Old Norse rann house; ransack, rest ¹ )

Origin of barn²

First recorded in 1945–50; special use of barn ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of barn¹

Old English beren , from bere barley + ærn room; see _barley ¹

Origin of barn²

C20: from _barn ¹ ; so called because of the relatively large cross section

Idioms and Phrases

see can't hit the broad side of a barn; lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.

Example Sentences

The newly purchased abode, which was built in 1919, is a Spanish-style ranch that comes with guesthouses, a barn, and stables.

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He was inspired in part by tiny Pomfret, Vt., home to a farm with classic red barns that offers the quintessential New England scenery.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“They hear the buzz of a drone and hide in barns or henhouses. Then, when the drone passes, they all come out,” he said.

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The pair, who are taking bookings for 2026, say they are looking at converting some of the other barns on the property into accommodation to enable whole wedding parties to stay.

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They bought a house on eight acres, and eventually expanded to nine other buildings, including a yoga studio, a wood shop, a barn and a garage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• outbuilding 
• shed