Bare

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bɛə(ɹ)/, /bɛː(ɹ)/, enPR: bâr
• US IPA: /bɛɚ/, enPR: bâr
• Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)
• Homophones: bear

From Middle English bare, bar, from Old English bær ("bare, naked, open"), from Proto-Germanic *bazaz ("bare, naked"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰos- ("bare, barefoot"). Cognate with Scots bare, bair ("bare"), Saterland Frisian bar ("bare"), West Frisian baar ("bare"), Dutch baar ("bare"), German bar ("bare"), Swedish bar ("bare"), Icelandic ber ("bare"), Lithuanian basas ("barefoot, bare"), Polish bosy ("barefoot").

Full definition of bare

Adjective

1. Minimal; that is or are just sufficient.a bare majority
• Addisonthe bare necessaries of life
2. Naked, uncovered.Don't show your bare backside in public.
3. Having no supplies.a room bare of furnitureThe cupboard was bare.
• 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/nyregion/new-jersey-continues-to-cope-with-hurricane-sandy.html?hp," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012)Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.
4. Having no decoration.The walls of this room are bare — why not hang some paintings on them?
5. Having had what usually covers (something) removed.The trees were left bare after the swarm of locusts devoured all the leaves.
6. (British, slang, not comparable) A lot or lots of.It's bare money to get in the club each time, man.
7. With head uncovered; bareheaded.
• HerbertWhen once thy foot enters the church, be bare.
8. Without anything to cover up or conceal one's thoughts or actions; open to view; exposed.
• MiltonBare in thy guilt, how foul must thou appear!
9. Threadbare; much worn.
• ShakespeareIt appears by their bare liveries that they live by your bare words.

Synonyms

• (minimal) mere, minimal
• (without a condom)
• (naked) exposed, naked, nude, uncovered, undressed
• (having no supplies) empty, unfurnished, unstocked, unsupplied
• (having no decoration) empty, plain, unadorned, undecorated
• (having had what usually covers (something) removed): despoiled, stripped, uncovered

Antonyms

• (minimal) ample, plentiful, sufficient
• (naked) covered, covered up, dressed, unexposed
• (having no supplies) full, furnished, stocked, supplied, well-stocked
• (having no decoration) adorned, decorated, ornate
• (having had what usually covers (something) removed) covered

Derived terms

Adverb

1. (British, slang) Very; significantly.This porno's bare whack, bruv.
2. Barely.
• 2009, Allan Cole, The Wars of the Shannons, He finally came back to himself and asked why the furor. "Why," Lucy said, "because this is Christmas Eve. We have bare enough time to get ready for the ball, after dinner, as it is."
• 2011, Elizabeth Vaughan, Warprize, “I've bare enough for these two, much less fill your belly.”
3. Without a condom

Noun

1. (‘the bare’) the surface, the (bare) skin
• 1599, John Marston, In sad good earnest, sir, you have toucht the very bare of naked truth ...
• 2002, Darren Shan, Hunters of the dusk: 7:Vancha clasped the bare of my neck and squeezed amiably.
2. Surface; body; substance.
• MarstonYou have touched the very bare of naked truth.
3. (architecture) That part of a roofing slate, shingle, tile, or metal plate, which is exposed to the weather.

Old English barian.

Verb

1. (transitive) To uncover; to reveal.She bared her teeth at him.

Synonyms

• (uncover) expose, lay bare, reveal, show, uncover

Antonyms

• (uncover) cover, cover up, hide

Derived terms

Inflected forms.

Verb

1. (obsolete)

   bare

   (simple past of bear)
• Bible, Josh. iii. 15The feet of the priest that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water.
• 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 5And so I put thee on my shoulder and bare thee back, and here thou art in David's room, and shalt find board and bed with me as long as thou hast mind to

Anagrams

• Aber, bear