barnacle Definition
- 1a small sea creature with a shell, that sticks itself very tightly to rocks and to the bottom of boats
- 2a person or thing that is difficult to get rid of or remove
Using barnacle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "barnacle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The bottom of the boat was covered in barnacles.
Example
He's a real barnacle, always hanging around and never leaving me alone.
Example
The company has become a barnacle on the economy, hindering growth and progress.
barnacle Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for barnacle
- crustacean
- shellfish
- burden
- hindrance
- clingy person
Phrases with barnacle
Example
The restaurant served a dish of goose barnacles, which was quite expensive.
Example
Barnacle Bill has been sailing the seas for over 20 years.
a type of goose that is named after the barnacle because it was once believed to hatch from barnacles attached to driftwood
Example
The barnacle goose is a migratory bird that breeds in the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia.
Summary: barnacle in Brief
A 'barnacle' [ˈbɑːnəkl] is a small sea creature that attaches itself tightly to rocks and boats. It can also refer to a person or thing that is difficult to get rid of or remove, as in 'He's a real barnacle, always hanging around and never leaving me alone.' The phrase 'barnacle bill' is a nickname for a sailor or someone who spends a lot of time on boats.
