barbell

IPA/ˈbɑːbel/
KK[bˈɑrbˌɛl]IPA/ˈbɑːrbel/

barbell — noun

  • barbellsingular
  • barbellsplural

1. A long metal rod with heavy circular plates attached at each end, used in weight

1.nounB1
Definition

A long metal rod with heavy circular plates attached at each end, used in weight training by gripping the bar and lifting it from the ground or a rack to build muscle strength.

Example

Wei lifted the barbell off the rack and pressed it above his head.

lifted the barbell off the rack

The gym had three barbells, each loaded with different amounts of weight.

three barbells

Common collocations
  • lift a barbell
  • grip a barbell
  • load a barbell
  • rack a barbell
  • heavy barbell
  • Olympic barbell
Synonyms
  • weight bar

    less common, used mainly in casual gym talk

Antonyms
  • dumbbell

    a short single-hand weight, not the two-handed bar

Grammar Patterns

a + barbell

[number] + barbells

Usage Note

Often used in compound exercise names: barbell squat, barbell bench press, barbell row. The standard Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg for men and 15 kg for women.

Common Mistakes

I lifted a barbell in each hand.
I lifted a dumbbell in each hand.
A barbell is a long bar held with both hands; a single-hand weight is called a dumbbell.

2. A small piece of body jewellery shaped like a straight bar with a bead, gem, or

2.nounB2
Definition

A small piece of body jewellery shaped like a straight bar with a bead, gem, or metal ball fixed at each end, designed to be worn through a piercing in the ear, eyebrow, lip, tongue, or other part of the body.

Example

Valentina bought a titanium barbell earring with a small silver ball on each end.

titanium barbell earring

The piercing studio sold barbell rings in gold, rose gold, and black steel.

Common collocations
  • tongue barbell
  • eyebrow barbell
  • barbell earring
  • threaded barbell
  • titanium barbell
Synonyms
  • piercing bar

    general term; barbell is the most common subtype

  • body bar

    broader term that can include curved barbells

Antonyms
  • hoop earring

    a circular earring, quite different in shape

  • stud earring

    a single decorative piece with one backing, not a bar through the piercing

Grammar Patterns

a + barbell

[number] + barbells

Usage Note

Barbell jewellery comes in standard lengths (6 mm–16 mm) and gauges (thicknesses). The beads or balls at the ends are usually screw-on or threaded.

Common Mistakes

She put a heavy gym barbell in her ear.
She put a small barbell earring in her ear.
The jewellery barbell is tiny and not for weightlifting.

3. A bond investment method in which money is divided between short-term bonds (for

3.nounC1
Definition

A bond investment method in which money is divided between short-term bonds (for easy access) and long-term bonds (for higher returns), while avoiding medium-term maturities, in order to balance risk with steady income.

Example

Arjun adopted a barbell strategy for his retirement fund, mixing short and long government bonds.

barbell strategy

A barbell approach can protect a portfolio when interest rates rise unexpectedly.

Common collocations
  • barbell strategy
  • barbell approach
  • barbell portfolio
  • barbell bond strategy
  • barbell investment plan
Synonyms
  • barbell approach

    identical meaning; approach and strategy are used interchangeably

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a + barbell + strategy

barbell + approach

barbell + portfolio

Usage Note

Always used in the context of bond investing. The name comes from the visual shape of the maturity distribution — high at both ends (short and long), low in the middle.

Common Mistakes

I used a barbell strategy to choose my stocks.
I used a barbell strategy to choose my bonds.
The barbell strategy applies specifically to bonds, not stocks.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A barbell is a long bar held with both hands and loaded with plates on each end, used for exercises like squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. A dumbbell is a short bar designed for one-handed use, allowing unilateral training and smaller muscle isolation. A kettlebell is a cast-iron ball with a handle, used for dynamic swinging movements such as the kettlebell swing or Turkish get-up — quite different from the barbell's more controlled, linear motion. A weight plate is a single disc loaded onto a barbell or dumbbell, not a complete lifting tool by itself. In the gym, a beginner might start with dumbbells for safety, progress to barbell lifts for heavier compound training, and later incorporate kettlebells for explosive power.

barbell ↗dumbbell ↗kettlebell ↗weight plate

Common collocations

Nouns

  • barbell curl
  • barbell row
  • barbell squat
  • barbell press
  • barbell bench

Adverbs

Phrases

  • load a barbell
  • lift a barbell
  • rack a barbell
  • unload a barbell
  • grip a barbell

Prepositions

  • on a barbell
  • off a barbell

Etymology

English

Coined in the late 19th century from bar (the long rod) + bell (because early weights had spherical, bell-shaped ends resembling church bells). The term replaced earlier 'dumb-bell' which originally described a device for ringing church bells. The financial sense arose in the late 20th century, describing the visual shape of a maturity-distribution chart with high concentrations at both ends.