Barren is a word that is often used to describe a land or an area that is unable to support life. It is also used to describe a woman who is unable to conceive a child. In this article, we will explore the various definitions and meanings of the word barren.
Definitions
The word barren is often used to describe a land or an area that is unable to support life. It can also be used to describe a woman who is unable to conceive a child. In both cases, the word barren is used to indicate a lack of fertility or productivity.
Origin
The word barren has its roots in the Old English word “beren,” which means “bare” or “empty.” The word was later used to describe land that was unable to support crops or vegetation.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word barren means “incapable of producing offspring, seed, or fruit.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word as “not producing crops or vegetation.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “not able to produce children or young.”
Associations
The word barren is often associated with infertility, unproductiveness, and emptiness. It can also be associated with a lack of creativity or inspiration.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of barren include infertile, sterile, unproductive, fruitless, and desolate.
Antonyms
Antonyms of barren include fertile, productive, fruitful, and abundant.
The same root words
Some words that have the same root as barren include bare, barenness, and barrenly.
Example Sentences
- The land was barren and unable to support any crops.
- The woman was unable to conceive a child and was considered barren.
- The writer’s mind was barren of any new ideas.
- The desert was a barren wasteland with no signs of life.
- The tree was barren, with no leaves or fruit.