|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
barren
bar·ren / ˈbarən/ • adj. 1. (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation. ∎ (of a tree or plant) not producing fruit or seed. ∎ (of a female animal) not pregnant or unable to become so. ∎ showing no results or achievements; unproductive: much of philosophy has been barren. 2. (of a place or building) bleak and lifeless: the sports hall turned out to be a rather barren concrete building. ∎ empty of meaning or value: those young heads were stuffed with barren facts. ∎ (barren of) devoid of: the room was barren of furniture. • n. (usu. barrens) a barren tract or tracts of land: crossing the barrens was no easy feat. DERIVATIVES: bar·ren·ness n. |
|
|
Cite this article
"barren." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "barren." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-barren.html "barren." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-barren.html |
|
barren
barren A community of few and scattered plants that occupy less than half the available ground area. Barrens occur in the north-eastern United States and within the Arctic tundra where they are typically dominated by a single plant species (e.g. Dryas octopetala, mountain avens); and often a single particle size predominates in the soil. Compare North American lowland coniferous forest and pine barren.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "barren." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "barren." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-barren.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "barren." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-barren.html |
|
barren
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "barren." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "barren." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-barren.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "barren." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-barren.html |
|
barren
barren incapable of offspring. XIII (barain). — OF. (fem.) barai(g)ne (mod. bréhaigne), of unkn. orig.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "barren." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "barren." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-barren.html T. F. HOAD. "barren." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-barren.html |
|
barren
barren
•Aran, Arran, baron, barren, Darren, Karen, Sharon, yarran
•Biafran, saffron
•plastron • Saharan • Sumatran
•heron, perron
•rhododendron • chevron
•Aaron, Charon, Dáil Eireann
•apron
•matron, patron
•Libran
•decahedron, dodecahedron, octahedron, polyhedron, tetrahedron
•children • citron • grandchildren
•stepchildren • godchildren
•schoolchildren
•Byron, Chiron, environ, Myron, siren
•sporran, warren
•squadron • Cochran
•Andorran, Doran, Lauren, loran
•cauldron
•Kieran, Madeiran, schlieren
•Honduran, Van Buren
•Aldebaran • Auberon • Acheron
•Cameron, Decameron
•cateran, Lateran
•veteran
•dipteran, hemipteran
•lepidopteran • Lutheran
|
|
|
Cite this article
"barren." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "barren." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-barren.html "barren." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-barren.html |
|