barrel Definition
- 1a cylindrical container with a flat top and bottom, used for storing liquids or food
- 2the amount that a barrel can hold, especially of oil
Using barrel: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "barrel" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The wine was aged in oak barrels.
Example
The price of oil per barrel has increased.
Example
He rolled the barrel down the hill.
Example
She bought a barrel of pickles at the market.
barrel Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with barrel
Example
I had to take the job because it was the bottom of the barrel.
lock, stock, and barrel
everything, the whole thing
Example
They moved to a new city, lock, stock, and barrel.
Example
The company had us over a barrel, so we had to accept their terms.
Origins of barrel
from Old French 'baril', from Frankish 'baril', from Proto-Germanic 'barilaz'
Summary: barrel in Brief
A 'barrel' [ˈbærəl] is a cylindrical container used for storing liquids or food. It also refers to the amount that a barrel can hold, particularly of oil. Examples include 'The wine was aged in oak barrels.' and 'She bought a barrel of pickles at the market.' Phrases like 'bottom of the barrel' denote the lowest level or quality, while 'lock, stock, and barrel' means everything or the whole thing.
