释义 |
bar·rel I. \ˈbarəl also ˈber-\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English barell, barel, from Middle French baril 1. : a round bulging vessel of greater length than breadth that is usually made of staves bound with hoops and has flat ends of equal diameter 2. a. : a barrel with its contents b. : the contents of a barrel c. : the amount contained in a barrel d. : any of various units of capacity or volume: as (1) : a United States unit of liquid measure equal to 31 1/2 gallons; also : a unit of measure for fermented beverages equal to 31 gallons (2) : a unit of measure for petroleum equal to 42 gallons (3) : a unit of dry measure (as for fruits or vegetables) equal to 105 dry quarts or about 3.9 bushels; also : a measure for cranberries equal to about 87 quarts or about 2.7 bushels — abbr. bbl. e. : a great quantity : lot < have a barrel of fun > 3. : a drum or cylinder or similar round part: as a. : the body of a windlass or capstan about which the cable winds b. : the tube of a gun from which the projectile is discharged c. : the revolving cylinder of a barrel organ d. : the flat cylindrical metal box that encloses the mainspring of a timepiece e. : the upper inside part of a bell f. : the large cylindrical part of a locomotive boiler containing the tubes g. : the core of various cylindrical devices (as a spool or bobbin) on which yarn or cloth is wound h. : the cylindrical part of a clarinet connecting the mouthpiece with the first joint i. : the part of a fountain pen or of a pencil containing the writing fluid or the lead j. : a cylindrical or tapering housing containing the optical components of a photographic-lens system and the iris diaphragm usually equipped with a flange on the outside for mounting on a camera k. : a revolving hollow cylinder or drum within which metal may be cleaned by tumbling with abrasive material or may be dissolved from ore by mixing with a leaching solution l. : the cylinder in which a piston travels m. : the fuel outlet from the carburetor on a gasoline engine 4. : the trunk of a quadruped especially of a domestic animal — see cow illustration II. verb (barreled or barrelled ; barreled or barrelled ; barreling or barrelling ; barrels) Etymology: Middle English barellen, from barell, n. transitive verb 1. : to put or pack in a barrel 2. : to clean or otherwise treat (metal) in a barrel 3. a. : to transport at a high speed < barrels heavy loads up steep hills > b. : to cause (as an automobile) to travel fast < barreled the convertible for a distant roadhouse > 4. : to fit (a firearm) with a barrel intransitive verb : to travel at a high speed < barreling along in excess of the speed limit > III. noun : a supply or collection of similar things < people graduating from college who are at the lowest part of the barrel — Albert Shanker > |