barb (redirected from barbless)

barb ¹  (bärb)

n.

1. A sharp point projecting in reverse direction to the main point of a weapon or tool, as on an arrow or fishhook.

2. A cutting remark.

3. Zoology One of the parallel filaments projecting from the main shaft of a feather.

4. Botany A short, sharply hooked bristle or hairlike projection.

5. See barbel¹.

6. Any of various Old World freshwater fishes of the genus Barbus or Puntius and related genera.

7. A linen covering for a woman's head, throat, and chin worn in medieval times.

tr.v. barbed, barb·ing, barbs

To provide or furnish with a barb.

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[Middle English barbe, from Old French, beard, from Latin barba; see bhardh-- in Indo-European roots.]

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barb

Noun

1. a cutting remark

2. a point facing in the opposite direction to the main point of a fish-hook, harpoon, etc.

3. a beardlike growth, hair, or projection

Verb

to provide with a barb or barbs [Latin barba beard]

barbed adj

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barb  (bärb)

1. A sharp point projecting backward, as on the stinger of a bee.

2. One of the hairlike branches on the shaft of a feather.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	barb - an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect; "his parting shot was `drop dead'"; "she threw shafts of sarcasm"; "she takes a dig at me every chance she gets" gibe, jibe, shaft, dig, slam, shot comment, remark, input - a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information; "from time to time she contributed a personal comment on his account" cheap shot - an unnecessarily aggressive and unfair remark directed at a defenseless person
	2.	barb - the pointed part of barbed wire barbed wire, barbwire - strong wire with barbs at regular intervals used to prevent passage point - sharp end; "he stuck the point of the knife into a tree"; "he broke the point of his pencil"
	3.	barb - a subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove arrowhead - the pointed head or striking tip of an arrow fluke - a barb on a harpoon or arrow hook - a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something point - sharp end; "he stuck the point of the knife into a tree"; "he broke the point of his pencil" lance, spear, shaft - a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
	4.	barb - one of the parallel filaments projecting from the main shaft of a feather web, vane - the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft fibril, filament, strand - a very slender natural or synthetic fiber
Verb	1.	barb - provide with barbs; "barbed wire" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

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barb

noun 1. point, spur, spike, thorn, bristle, quill, prickle, tine, prong

noun 2. dig, abuse, slight, insult, put-down, snub, sneer, scoff, rebuff, affront, slap in the face (informal) gibe, aspersion