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# barb

noun (a barb, barbs); verb (barb, barbs, barbed — mostly as «barbed»)

«barb» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A barb is a sharp point that sticks out backwards from the tip of a fish hook, arrow or wire, so it is hard to pull out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#m1)
2. A barb is an unkind remark meant to hurt someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#m2)
3. In biology, barbs are the thin side threads on a feather, and the sharp backward hooks on a bee's sting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons a honeybee's sting has barbs, so it gets stuck in skin; feathers are made of a shaft with barbs. In safety, barbed wire on farm fences can cut you, so climb over at a gate. In stories and friendships, a barb is a mean comment. Phrases: «barbed wire», «a fish-hook barb», «a sharp barb».

### Examples

- The fish hook has a barb so the fish can't slip off. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x1)
- The bee's sting has tiny barbs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x2)
- Barbed wire runs along the top of the fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x3)
- Her barb about my hair really hurt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x4)
- Each feather has hundreds of tiny barbs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x5)
- Be careful — the barbs on the wire are sharp. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x6)
- The arrowhead had a barb at the back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x7)
- He ignored the barbs from the other team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/#x8)

### Note

Countable: a barb, barbs. Adjective: barbed (barbed wire, a barbed comment). Not the same as «Barb» (a name, short for Barbara) or «barber» (a person who cuts hair). Safety: don't pull a barbed hook out of skin yourself — get an adult.

## In Jewish tradition

In science lessons a honeybee's sting has barbs, so it gets stuck in skin; feathers are made of a shaft with barbs. In safety, barbed wire on farm fences can cut you, so climb over at a gate. In stories and friendships, a barb is a mean comment. Phrases: «barbed wire», «a fish-hook barb», «a sharp barb».

### Note

Countable: a barb, barbs. Adjective: barbed (barbed wire, a barbed comment). Not the same as «Barb» (a name, short for Barbara) or «barber» (a person who cuts hair). Safety: don't pull a barbed hook out of skin yourself — get an adult.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «barb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barb/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«barb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/barb.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «barb» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/barb/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«barb» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/barb.html) on Mova free.