🛢️ A large container 📏 A liquid unit 🔫 A gun tube 🏎️ To rush fast ⭕ A round shape 📦 To pack in barrels

barrel

141 2.8

A standard measure of liquid often used for oil or beer

noun
/ˈbærəl/

: barril

The country now produces about 480,000 barrels a day, of which some 220,000 barrels are exported.
million barrels
barrels of oil
barrels per day

California consumes every single barrel of oil that we produce.

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Examples

In 1900, only a few thousand barrels of oil were used daily.

Academic text (1999)
- How many barrels a day?

Scarface (1932)
So one example is in this material, this is a barrel of oil.
Prices jumped from $16 per barrel in June 1990 to $30 in September.

Academic text (1999)
Finally, oil prices are set at $33 per barrel, rising at 1% per year in both studies.

Academic text (1991)
There is every reason to think that billions of barrels of oil are there for the taking.

Academic text (2011)
California consumes every single barrel of oil that we produce.

The Rich Dad Channel
This field alone produces thousands of barrels of palm oil.

The Woman King (2022)
At the more recent price of $140 for a barrel of crude, the amount is far greater.

Academic text (2008)
The price of oil dropped below $50 a barrel for the first time in five years.

Synonyms

bbl

vsbarrel

Specialized

17 8.6

A unit for measuring liquids often used for oil and beer

is the full unit term rather than its short written form

barrelful

vsbarrel

1 2.8

An amount that fills a large round container used for liquids or food

is a standardized measurement defined by convention not any container size

BDL

vsbarrel

Specialized

6.8

A unit of volume used to measure oil

is the full unit term rather than its short written form

Idioms

the bottom of the barrel

Informal

9 6.6

The worst choices left after better ones are gone

over a barrel

Informal

7 7.9

Helpless and unable to act because someone else is in control

barrel of laughs

Informal

6 4.2

Someone or something that is very funny and enjoyable

to scrape the bottom of the barrel

Informal

3 7.5

Use the least good options because nothing better is left

left over a barrel

Informal

8.7

In a situation where you cannot act freely and must accept someone else's decision

Compounds

pork barrel

Jargon

12 7.9

Government money used for local projects to please voters

gun barrel

5 3.9

A long metal tube in a gun that a bullet travels through when fired

barrel roll

Specialized

2 7.8

A flying stunt where a plane makes one full turn while rolling as it moves forward

trash barrel

2 1.1

A large round bin for holding rubbish until someone collects it

rain barrel

2 3.3

A large container that collects rainwater from roofs for later use

beer barrel

1 2.7

A large round container that holds beer for keeping or moving

barrel of monkeys

Informal

1 6.3

A very fun and enjoyable situation or activity

wine barrel

1 3.1

A barrel that stores and ages wine

barrel cactus

1 6.8

A large round cactus with ribs and sharp spines that grows in deserts

barrel knot

Jargon

1 8.6

A knot people who fish use to join two lines by wrapping the ends together

barrel-shaped

4.1

Having a round shape that is wider in the middle like a drum

barrel maker

6.2

A person who makes and fixes wooden barrels and tubs

barrel of sunshine

Informal

5.0

A person or thing that brings joy and warmth to others

barrel organ

Archaic

8.6

A machine that makes music when you turn a handle

barrel vault

Specialized

7.9

A curved ceiling made by one long arch, like half a cylinder

golden barrel cactus

7.5

A large round cactus with golden spines and pale yellow flowers often grown in gardens

pickle barrel

3.1

A large wooden barrel that holds cucumbers or vegetables in vinegar

How Much

barrel

141 2.8

gallon

416 1.0

pint

6 1.0

cup

609 1.0

Surface Forms

barrel singular

barrels plural

Etymology

Barrel as a unit comes from the same container idea: people measured how much liquid fit in one barrel, so the container itself became a 'measure'.