bark

bark¹ [ba:k US ba:rk] v

[: Old English; Origin: beorcan]

1.)

when a dog barks, it makes a short loud sound or series of sounds

→↑growl bark at

▪ The dog always barks at strangers.

2.) [i]also bark out [T]

to say something quickly in a loud voice

bark at

▪ 'Don't just stand there, give me a hand,' she barked at the shop assistant.

3.) bark up the wrong tree informal

to have a wrong idea, or do something in a way that will not give you the information or result you want

▪ The police spent three months barking up the wrong tree on the murder investigation.

4.) [T]

to rub the skin off your knee, elbow etc by falling or knocking against something

= ↑graze

▪ I barked my shin against the step.

bark ²

bark² n

[Sense: 1, 3-4; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: BARK¹]

[Sense: 2; Date: 1200-1300; : Old Norse; Origin: börkr]

1.)

the sharp loud sound made by a dog

2.) [U]

the outer covering of a tree

3.)

a loud sound or voice

▪ Amy's voice was a hoarse bark.

4.) sb's bark is worse than their bite

used to say that someone who seems unpleasant or difficult to deal with, is not really too bad