barrel

/ˈbɛrəl/

/ˈbærəl/

Other forms: barrels; barreled; barreling; barrelling

A barrel is a big container used to store liquids. If you're moving a barrel, it's best to tip it on its side because its shape bulges at the center, so that it's easy to roll.

Barrels hold liquid in them — anything from wine to beer to oil. A barrel can also be the tube in a gun that a bullet travels through. You might hear the expression "stare down the barrel of a gun," which means you're looking at a gun pointed right at your face. A barrel is also used as a unit of measure or to refer to a large unit of measure. When someone says they are having "barrels of fun," they're having a really great time.

Definitions of barrel

1. noun

   a bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
   synonyms: drum

   type of:

   cylinder

   a surface generated by rotating a parallel line around a fixed line
2. noun

   a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
   synonyms: gun barrel

   type of:

   tube, tubing

   conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
3. noun

   a cylindrical container that holds liquids
   synonyms: cask

   types:

   beer barrel, beer keg

   a barrel that holds beer

   butt

   a large cask (especially one holding a volume equivalent to 2 hogsheads or 126 gallons)

   hogshead

   a large cask especially one holding 63 gals

   keg

   small cask or barrel

   pickle barrel

   a barrel holding vinegar in which cucumbers are pickled

   shook

   a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment

   tun

   a large cask especially one holding a volume equivalent to 2 butts or 252 gals

   wine barrel, wine cask

   a barrel that holds wine

   firkin

   a small wooden keg

   powder keg

   keg (usually made of metal) for gunpowder or blasting powder

   water butt

   a butt set on end to contain water especially to store rainwater

   type of:

   vessel

   an object used as a container (especially for liquids)
4. noun

   the quantity that a barrel (of any size) will hold
   synonyms: barrelful

   type of:

   containerful

   the quantity that a container will hold
5. noun

   any of various units of capacity
   “a barrel of beer is 31 gallons and a barrel of oil is 42 gallons”

   synonyms: bbl

   type of:

   United States liquid unit

   a liquid unit officially adopted in the United States Customary System

   British capacity unit, Imperial capacity unit

   a unit of measure for capacity officially adopted in the British Imperial System; British units are both dry and wet
6. verb

   put in barrels
   type of:

   lay, place, pose, position, put, set

   put into a certain place or abstract location
7. verb

   move headlong at high speed
   synonyms: careen, career

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically