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Barrès

[ba-res]
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noun
  1. Mau·rice [moh-rees] /moʊˈris/, 1862–1923, French novelist, writer on politics, and politician.
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barre

or bar

[bahr]
noun Ballet.
  1. a handrail placed at hip height, used by a dancer to maintain balance during practice.
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Origin of barre

First recorded in 1945–50

barré

[bah-rey]
noun
  1. Textiles. a pattern of stripes or bands of color extending across the warp in woven and knitted fabrics.
  2. Textiles. a streak in the filling direction when one or more picks are of a color different from that of adjacent picks.
  3. Music. a technique of playing a chord on a stringed instrument by laying a finger across the strings at a particular fret, raising their pitch.
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Origin of barré

< French: literally, barred, past participle of barrer, derivative of barre bar1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for barres

Historical Examples

  • The Vicomte des Barres rose from his chair and lounged into the middle of the room.

    Angelot

    Eleanor Price

  • It was hard to concentrate; her thoughts were straying, now, to Barres.

    The Moonlit Way

    Robert W. Chambers

  • “Belongs to Barres,” interrupted Esm Trenor in his drawling voice.

    The Moonlit Way

    Robert W. Chambers

  • “Dulcie needs clothes suitable to her age,” continued Barres.

    The Moonlit Way

    Robert W. Chambers

  • I guess that was the only way—if she was really going to take it up to young Barres.

    The Moonlit Way

    Robert W. Chambers

British Dictionary definitions for barres

Barrès

noun
  1. Maurice (mɔris). 1862–1923, French novelist, essayist, and politician: a fervent nationalist and individualist
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barre

noun
  1. a rail at hip height used for ballet practice and leg exercises
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Word Origin

literally: bar

barré

noun
  1. the act of laying the index finger over some or all of the strings of a guitar, lute, or similar instrument, so that the pitch of each stopped string is simultaneously raisedCompare capo 1
  2. the playing of chords in this manner
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verb
  1. to execute (chords) in this manner
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adverb
  1. by using the barré
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Word Origin

C19: from French, from barrer bar 1
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

Word Origin and History for barres

barre

1876, in reference to chords played on a guitar, etc., from French, literally "bar" (see bar (n.1)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper