barrel
/ˈbærəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbærəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈber-əl ˈba-rəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbær.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈber.əl/ (ame, ipa)
barrel — noun
1. a tall, round container that bulges out around the middle and has flat circular
a tall, round container that bulges out around the middle and has flat circular ends; usually built from wooden planks, metal, or thick plastic, and used for storing liquids like wine, beer, or rainwater.
Nia rolled an empty wine barrel across the cellar floor.
common verb partner: roll a barrel
The old farm collected rainwater in a wooden barrel by the back door.
collocation: collect/store [liquid] in a barrel
Whisky must rest in oak barrels for at least three years.
A row of blue plastic barrels lined the warehouse wall.
The pirates hid their gold inside a barrel of salted fish.
文法句型
a barrel of [liquid]
用法筆記
Often modified by the material (wooden, metal, plastic, oak) or the contents (wine, beer, oil). Frequently appears in the pattern 'a barrel of [liquid or food]'.
常見錯誤
2. a unit used in the oil business to count how much crude oil is produced, traded,
a unit used in the oil business to count how much crude oil is produced, traded, or used; one barrel equals about 159 litres (42 US gallons).
Saudi Arabia pumps roughly nine million barrels of oil every day.
pattern: [number] barrels of oil
The price of crude jumped to ninety dollars a barrel last week.
collocation: dollars a barrel (price quoting)
Texas farmers buy diesel by the barrel during harvest season.
The tanker spilled two thousand barrels of oil into the bay.
- bbl
the standard written abbreviation in trading and shipping documents.
文法句型
[number] barrels of [substance]
用法筆記
Almost always tied to oil; for other liquids speakers usually say 'litres' or 'gallons' instead. Common in news headlines and financial reporting about energy markets.
常見錯誤
3. the long, narrow tube on a gun, rifle, or cannon; a bullet or shell flies out th
the long, narrow tube on a gun, rifle, or cannon; a bullet or shell flies out through this tube when the weapon is fired.
Sergeant Diaz cleaned the rifle barrel with a soft cloth and oil.
collocation: clean/oil a barrel
Smoke curled out of the cannon's barrel after the loud blast.
The robber pointed the barrel of his pistol straight at the cashier.
A short-barrelled shotgun is easier to handle in narrow hallways.
文法句型
the barrel of a [gun/rifle/cannon]
用法筆記
Almost always combined with a specific weapon ('rifle barrel', 'pistol barrel'). The compound forms 'long-barrelled' and 'short-barrelled' work as adjectives describing the gun.
常見錯誤
barrel — verb
1. to rush forward at high speed in one fixed direction, often without slowing down
to rush forward at high speed in one fixed direction, often without slowing down or being careful; usually used about cars, trucks, or running people.
A red pickup truck barrelled down the highway toward the border.
pattern: barrel + down + [path]
The toddler barrelled into Grandpa's arms the moment he opened the door.
pattern: barrel into + [target]
Snowplows barrelled through the empty streets of Boston before sunrise.
Jamal barrelled around the corner on his bike and nearly hit a parked car.
The freight train barrelled past the small station without stopping.
文法句型
barrel + [direction adverb / prepositional phrase]
用法筆記
Always intransitive and always paired with a direction word (down, into, through, past, along). The subject is usually a vehicle, animal, or running person; not used for slow or careful movement.