Barrel
/ˈbærəl/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a noun, a barrel is a big, round container with flat ends, often used to store liquids like wine, oil, or water. It can also hold other things like food or materials. As a verb, "to barrel" means to move fast and straight, sometimes without control, like a car or person rushing forward.
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See It in Action
Large round container for liquids or goods (noun)
- •The wine was stored in oak barrels for aging.
- •They filled the barrel with fresh water from the well.
- •The factory uses barrels to transport oil safely.
To move quickly and forcefully (verb)
- •The car barreled down the highway at high speed.
- •He barreled through the crowd to catch the bus.
- •The boat barreled into the waves during the storm.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "barrel" like "box" (A1 word), but round and bigger, often used for liquids, not just things
- ✓Picture a large wooden container with metal rings holding the wood pieces tightly together
- ✓Imagine the feeling of a fast car "barreling" down a hill—moving quickly and powerfully
- ✓Sounds like "barrel" → imagine a bear rolling down a hill inside a big round barrel
- ✓In cartoons, barrels often roll down hills or are used to hold treasure or drinks
- ✓NOT like "bottle" (small, holds liquids but narrow and tall), "barrel" is big and round
- ✓NOT like "roll" (the action), "barrel" as a verb means moving fast and straight, not just turning
- ✓NOT like "container" (general word), "barrel" is a specific type with a round shape and strong build
Try Other Words
- •Cask: a wooden barrel, often used for wine or whiskey (Use when talking about traditional wooden barrels for drinks)
- •Drum: a large metal container for liquids or materials (Use when the container is metal, often in industry)
- •Container: a general word for something that holds items (Use when the type of container is not important)
- •Rush: to move quickly (Use as a verb when "barrel" means moving fast)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "barrel" is a base word without clear prefixes or suffixes
- •Etymology: From Old French "baril," meaning a small barrel or cask, possibly from Late Latin "barrīle"
- •Historical development: Used since the Middle Ages to describe wooden containers for liquids; later extended to mean fast movement because of the shape and idea of rolling
- •Modern usage: Still used for round containers and to describe fast, forceful movement in everyday speech and writing
Reflect & Connect
•How does the shape of a barrel help it hold liquids safely compared to other containers?
•Can you think of situations where moving quickly like "barreling" would be good or bad?
Fill in the blanks
1.The old wooden barrel was ___ full of wine stored for the festival.
2.The truck barreled ___ the highway, making it hard for other cars to keep up.
3.Unlike a box, a barrel is round and often used to hold ___ like oil or water.
4.When the river flooded, the logs barreled ___ downstream with great force.
5.They used a metal drum instead of a barrel because it was ___ and easier to carry.
6.The horse barreled ___ the field, showing its strength and speed.
7.The workers filled the barrel ___ heavy stones before moving it to the truck.