barren

barren
I. adjective Etymology: Middle English bareine, from Anglo-French barain, perhaps of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Welsh brynar fallow land Date: 13th century 1. not reproducing: as a. incapable of producing offspring — used especially of females or matings b. not yet or not recently pregnant c. habitually failing to fruit 2. not productive: as a. producing little or no vegetation ; desolate <
barren deserts
>
b. producing inferior crops <
barren soil
>
c. unproductive of results or gain ; fruitless <
a barren scheme
>
3. devoid, lacking — used with of <
barren of excitement
>
4. lacking interest or charm <
a barren routine
>
5. lacking inspiration or ideas <
a barren mind
>
Synonyms: see barebarrenly adverbbarrenness noun II. noun Date: 1651 1. plural an extent of usually level land having an inferior growth of trees or little vegetation 2. a tract of barren land

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Barren — as a place name can refer to: *Barren County, Kentucky *Barren Island (Andaman Islands) *Barren Island, Brooklyn *Barren River LakeBarren can also refer to: *Barren County (album) *Barren County Progress *Barren Realms Elite *Barren Strawberry… …   Wikipedia

  • Barren — Bar ren (b[a^]r ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br[ e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. br[ e]kha[ n], markha[ n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • barren — [bar′ən, ber′ən] adj. [ME barain < OFr baraigne, brehaigne, orig. used of land] 1. that cannot produce offspring; sterile [a barren woman] 2. not bearing or pregnant at the regular time: said of animals or plants 3. not producing crops or… …   English World dictionary

  • barren — I adjective arid, bare, childless, desolate, disused, empty, fallow, fruitless, functionless, idle, impotent, inactive, inane, infecund, infertile, insufficient, issueless, nonfertile, nonproducing, nonproductive, profitless, scarce, shallow,… …   Law dictionary

  • barren — (adj.) c.1200, from O.Fr. baraigne, baraing sterile, barren (12c.), perhaps originally brahain, of obscure derivation, perhaps from a Germanic language. In England, originally used of women, of land in France. Of land in English from late 14c. As …   Etymology dictionary

  • barren of — formal : not having (something) : ↑without a hillside barren of trees • • • Main Entry: ↑barren …   Useful english dictionary

  • Barren — Bar ren, n. 1. A tract of barren land. [1913 Webster] 2. pl. Elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, but not timber; as, pine barrens; oak barrens. They are not necessarily sterile, and are often fertile. [Amer.] J. Pickering. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barren [1] — Barren, 1) Canton im südlichen Theile des Staates Kentucky in den Vereinigten Staaten; Flächeninhalt etwa 23 QM.; Boden wellenförmig, in einigen Theilen hügelig, ziemlich fruchtbar. Es finden sich Schwefel u. Salzquellen, u. der Canton besitzt… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Barren [2] — Barren (Mehrzahl Barrens), Bezeichnung für »unfruchtbare« Landstriche in Nordamerika; so besonders für die ursprünglich steppenhaften Hochflächen in Kentucky, auf denen heute erfolgreich Tabak gebaut wird; die kiefernbestandenen Sandebenen in… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Barren [2] — Barren, Turngerät aus zwei parallelen, horizontalen, auf je zwei gleich! hohen Stützen ruhenden Hölzern (Holmen). Höhe und Abstand der Holmen richten sich nach den verschiedenen Altersstufen, von denen das Gerät benutzt wird Gegenwärtig benutzt… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • barren — [adj1] unable to support growth arid, depleted, desert, desolate, dry, effete, empty, fallow, fruitless, impotent, impoverished, infecund, infertile, parched, sterile, unbearing, uncultivable, unfertile, unfruitful, unproductive, waste; concepts… …   New thesaurus

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