barbed wire

barbed wire
noun
strong wire with barbs at regular intervals used to prevent passage (Freq. 4)
• Syn: ↑barbwire
• Hypernyms: ↑wire
• Hyponyms: ↑concertina
• Part Meronyms: ↑barb

* * *

\\ˈbä(r)bˈ(d)wī(ə)r; ˈbȧbˈ(d)wīə, ˈbäb-; attrib ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷\ noun
Etymology: from past participle of barb (II)
: a wire or a strand of twisted wires armed with barbs or sharp points

* * *

a wire or strand of wires having small pieces of sharply pointed wire twisted around it at short intervals, used chiefly for fencing in livestock, keeping out trespassers, etc. Also called barbwire.
[1860-65]

* * *

barbed wire noun (also (US)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑barb

* * *

barbed wire UK US noun [uncountable] ★
thick wire with a lot of sharp points sticking out of it, used for making fences
Thesaurus: fences and boundarieshyponym farm buildings and structures where animals are kepthyponym

* * *

barbed wire,
wire with sharp points on it every few inches, used for fences chiefly to pen animals and discourage intruders and, formerly, to protect a military position. Also, barbwire.

* * *

n. wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes set at intervals along it, used to make fences or in warfare as an obstruction

* * *

noun [noncount]
: wire that has sharp points and that is often used for fences

a fence made of barbed wire = a barbed-wire fence

— called also (US) barbwire

* * *

ˌbarbed ˈwire [barbed wire] noun uncountable
strong wire with short sharp points on it, used especially for fences

•

a barbed wire fence


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Barbed wire — Barbed Barbed, a. Furnished with a barb or barbs; as, a barbed arrow; barbed wire. [1913 Webster] {Barbed wire}, a wire, or a strand of twisted wires, armed with barbs or sharp points. It is used for fences. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • barbed wire — n [U] wire with short sharp points on it ▪ a high barbed wire fence …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • barbed wire — also barb wire, fencing wire with sharp edges or points, 1863, Amer.Eng., from BARB (Cf. barb) + WIRE (Cf. wire) …   Etymology dictionary

  • barbed wire — barbed′ wire′ n. bui strands of wire twisted together with small pieces of sharply pointed wire at short intervals, used for fencing Also called barbwire • Etymology: 1860–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • barbed wire — noun uncount * thick wire with a lot of sharp points sticking out of it, used for making fences …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • barbed wire — ► NOUN ▪ wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes at intervals along it …   English terms dictionary

  • barbed wire — ☆ barbed wire n. strands of wire twisted together, with barbs at regular, close intervals, used for fencing or military barriers …   English World dictionary

  • Barbed wire — For other uses, see Barb wire (disambiguation). A close up view of a barbed wire barb …   Wikipedia

  • barbed wire — N UNCOUNT: oft N n Barbed wire is strong wire with sharp points sticking out of it, and is used to make fences. The factory was surrounded by barbed wire. ...a barbed wire fence …   English dictionary

  • barbed wire — a wire or strand of wires having small pieces of sharply pointed wire twisted around it at short intervals, used chiefly for fencing in livestock, keeping out trespassers, etc. Also called barbwire. [1860 65] * * *  fence wire usually consisting… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”