barley

noun

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: a cereal grass (genus Hordeum and especially H. vulgare) having the flowers in dense spikes with long awns and three spikelets at each joint of the rachis

also : its seed used especially in malt beverages, breakfast foods, and stock feeds

Examples of barley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bruichladdich, known for its devotion to Islay's barley provenance and on-island operations, was the first Scotch whisky distillery to earn a B Corp certification. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

Last year, Katsuki highlighted a shortage of barley and hops as a serious risk to beer supply across Europe. —Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 1 Oct. 2024

However, those with dietary restrictions or allergies, like gluten sensitivity (a response to a protein in wheat, barley, or rye) or seafood allergies, may need to tailor the Nordic diet. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024

The barley was grown on a single Islay farm, and the whisky was aged in a combination of first-fill bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks from Spain and bottled at 61.3 percent ABV. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English barly, from Old English bærlic of barley; akin to Old English bere barley, Latin far spelt

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing barley

• barley-bree
• barley-broo
• barley sugar
• barley wine

Kids Definition

barley

noun

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: a cereal grass with flowers in dense spikes

also : its seed used especially in malt beverages, in foods (as soups and cereals), or as feed for livestock

Medical Definition

barley

noun

bar·​ley ˈbär-lē 

: a cereal grass (genus Hordeum, especially H. vulgare) having the flowers in dense spikes with long awns

also : its seed used in malt beverages and in breakfast foods and stock feeds