barre

The French word "barre" is a noun that can have several meanings depending on the context:

Meaning and Explanation:

1. Bar or Rod

   • "Barre" primarily means a bar or rod — a long, rigid piece of metal, wood, or other material.
   • It can refer to physical objects like a metal bar, a wooden bar, or even a bar used in construction or sports (e.g., a balance beam or pull-up bar).

2. Bar (Line/Mark)

   • It can also mean a line or stroke — as in a mark drawn or printed on paper, for example, the horizontal bar in letters like "t" or the slash (/) often called "barre oblique" in French.

3. Control and Regulation

   • In a figurative sense, "barre" can mean a barrier or something that limits or controls access — similar to an obstacle or boundary.

4. Gymnastics

   • In sports, especially gymnastics and ballet, "barre" refers to the horizontal handrail used by gymnasts or dancers for support during exercises, typically called "la barre."

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Parts:

• Masculine noun: la barre means the bar.
• Plural: les barres.

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Synonyms:

• tige (rod, stem)
• barreau (small bar, railing)
• bande (strip, band; more figurative for something flat)
• obstacle (obstacle, barrier, figurative synonym)

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Antonyms:

• Because "barre" means a rigid piece or a barrier, depending on usage, antonyms could be:
  • ouverture (opening)
  • passage (passage)
  • espace (space)

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Examples in sentences:

• La barre de métal est très résistante.
  (The metal bar is very strong.)

• Il s'accroche à la barre pour faire des tractions.
  (He hangs on the bar to do pull-ups.)

• Elle a dessiné une barre sur le papier pour corriger l'erreur.
  (She drew a line across the paper to correct the mistake.)

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In summary, "barre" is most commonly used to designate a physical bar or rod, a line or stroke, or a railing used in exercise and ballet. It also metaphorically represents barriers or limits.