Bar

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /bɑː/

Definitions

1. A long rigid piece of metal, wood, or other material used as a barrier, support, or for fastening ; a counter where goods, drinks, or services are served to customers ; the practice of legal profession or a profession collectively
2. A solid straight rod often used as a barricade, structural element, or fastening device ; a ledge or counter in establishments serving food or beverages ; the collective body of lawyers or the field of law as a profession
3. A rigid strip made of metal or wood serving as a fence, support, or securing device ; an area in a pub or restaurant where drinks are prepared and served ; the legal profession as a whole or the credential to practice law

Etymology: The noun for a long rigid piece of wood, metal or similar material has an origin that etymologists have not been able to trace with confidence. Its verb sense, "to fasten or block with a bar," grew out of the noun, and related verbs in Occitan, Spanish and Portuguese (all "barrar") share the same meaning of barring or blocking a way. The same spelling covers unrelated senses. The unit of pressure, equal to one hundred thousand pascals, was proposed by the Norwegian meteorologist Vilhelm Bjerknes in 1906, who built on a suggestion from the American chemist Theodore William Richards in 1903. It is a variant of the earlier units "barye" and "barad."

Synonyms: pub, tavern, saloon, lounge, club

Antonyms: open, free, permit