barrel

Barrel is defined as a container that resembles a drum which has curved sides and a circular bottom and top.

(noun)

An example of a barrel is a wooden cask for aging wine.

Barrel means to move very quickly and often in a dangerous way.

(verb)

An example of barrel is a car that is rolling down a hill with brakes that don't work.

The definition of a barrel is a unit measurement used in certain industries to signify how much material can be held inside a large round container.

(noun)

An example of a barrel is 31 gallons of oil in the United States.

See barrel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a large, wooden, cylindrical container with flat, circular ends and sides that bulge outward, made usually of staves bound together with hoops
the capacity or contents of a standard barrel, esp. as a unit of measure (in the U.S., 31 gal, but for petroleum, 42 gal and for fermented beverages, 31 gal; in Gr. Brit., 36 imperial gal; in dry measure, various amounts, as 196 lb of flour, 200 lb of pork or fish, etc.)
a revolving cylinder, wound with a chain or rope: the barrel of a windlass
any hollow or solid cylinder: the barrel of a fountain pen
the tube of a gun, through which the projectile is fired
the cylindrical case containing the mainspring of a clock or watch
the piston chamber of a pump
the quill of a feather
Informal a great amount: a barrel of fun

Origin: ME barel < OFr baril < ML barillus < ?

to put or pack in a barrel or barrels

intransitive verb

Slang to go at high speed

See barrel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A large cylindrical container, usually made of staves bound together with hoops, with a flat top and bottom of equal diameter.
The quantity that a barrel with a given or standard capacity will hold.
Abbr. bar. or bbl. or bl. Any of various units of volume or capacity. In the U.S. Customary System it varies, as a liquid measure, from 31 to 42 gallons (120 to 159 liters) as established by law or usage. See Table at measurement.
The cylindrical part or hollow shaft of any of various mechanisms, as:
a. The metal, cylindrical part of a firearm through which the bullet travels.
b. A cylinder that contains a movable piston.
c. The drum of a capstan.
d. The cylinder within the mechanism of a timepiece that contains the mainspring.
The trunk of a quadruped animal, such as a horse or cow.
Informal A large quantity: a barrel of fun.
Slang An act or instance of moving rapidly, often recklessly, in a motor vehicle.