barley

Everyday

A cereal plant like wheat, whose grain is used for food, for animal feed and for making beer and malt. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography: barley is a crop grown on farms; in history, one of the first crops people grew. In food: barley soup, barley water (UK drink). Phrases: a field of barley, barley water, pearl barley.

Examples

• The farmer grows barley in that field. tree →
• Barley soup is warm and filling. tree →
• Barley is used to make malt. tree →
• Barley was one of the first crops people farmed. tree →
• Lemon barley water is a British drink. tree →
• The wind made the barley wave. tree →
• They were flying about when three grains of barley fell on the floor. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Other cereals: wheat, oats, rye, rice, maize. "Barley sugar" is a kind of boiled sweet.

In Jewish tradition

A grain that was one of the main crops of the land of Israel. It is listed among the good things of the land.

Interpretation. Barley ripens first in spring, and the Omer offering of new barley is brought at Passover. The seven species of the land of Israel include barley.

Examples

• a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey; (Torah DEU.8.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the flax and the barley were smitten; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom. (Torah EXO.9.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. (Writings RUT.3.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and noisome weeds instead of barley. (Writings JOB.31.40, JPS 1917) tree →
• So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley; (Prophets HOS.3.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Other cereals: wheat, oats, rye, rice, maize. "Barley sugar" is a kind of boiled sweet.