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barbell

barbell

11 3.3
A long metal bar with heavy round weights at each end used for lifting
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑːrˌbɛl/
translation icon : barra
  • When she was 17, her brother dropped a barbell on her foot.
  • barbell squat
  • barbell curl
  • lifting barbells

It's not actually picking up the barbell, right?

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Examples

  • Like a partner has to lift the barbell off my chest, but you have to get close.

  • I bought him a set of barbells.

  • There are essentially two main styles of barbells: Standard and Olympic.

    Blog text (4)
  • You really should begin with dumbbells, and then move to barbells, saving machines for the end.

    Blog text (4)
  • To perform a stiff-legged deadlift, stand with a barbell hanging from your arms before your thighs.

    Blog text (25)
  • Along the right wall, some hunting prints hung over an exercise area: a stationary bike and some barbells.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • To increase your strength, lift the barbell over your head while keeping your core tight.

  • He carefully loaded the barbell with weights before starting his workout session.

  • During the competition, she successfully performed a clean and jerk with the barbell.

How Fixed

machine
1.0
barbell
11 3.3
free weight
5 3.4
kettlebell
3 3.7

Surface Forms

barbell singular
barbells plural

Morphology

barbell = bar + bell (semi-transparent) = bar + bell

The components 'bar' and 'bell' are clear, but 'bell' is used metaphorically for weighted ends rather than literal bells, so the compound denotes a specific gym apparatus.

Etymology

The word barbell comes from two simple words: bar ('rod') and bell ('bell-shaped weight'). So a barbell is like a long rod with heavy 'bells' on each end, which is exactly what people use for lifting.