[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/barnacle/)

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# barnacle

noun (a barnacle, barnacles)

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

## Everyday

1. A small sea animal with a hard shell that sticks itself to rocks, ships and whales and stays there. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#m1)
2. (informal) A person who sticks to someone and will not go away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#m2)
3. A barnacle can also be a humorous old word for a pair of trousers or pantaloons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons about rock pools and sea life, barnacles are crustaceans (related to crabs) that feed by waving feathery legs to catch food. On a beach trip children see them on rocks and piers. Phrases: "covered in barnacles", "barnacle geese".

### Examples

- The rocks at the beach were covered in barnacles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x1)
- Barnacles stick to the bottom of boats and slow them down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x2)
- A barnacle catches food with its feathery legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x3)
- Be careful, barnacles are sharp on bare feet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x4)
- The old whale had barnacles on its skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x5)
- Barnacles are related to crabs and lobsters, not to snails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x6)
- My little brother clung to me like a barnacle all day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x7)
- “No, that's my 'barnacle.' And what do you call these?” said he pointing to his pantaloons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/barnacle/#x8)

### Note

Countable: a barnacle, barnacles. Many people think barnacles are shellfish like mussels, but they are crustaceans. The barnacle goose is a bird; old stories wrongly said it grew from barnacles.

## On Mova

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