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(br"ren), a.[OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. brhaigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. brkha, markha, sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc. barau, baru, fasting.] 1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young; sterile; -- said of women and female animals. She was barren of children. Bp. Hall. 2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; sterile. "Barren mountain tracts." Macaulay. 3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty. Brilliant but barren reveries. Prescott. Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter. Swift. 4. Mentally dull; stupid. Shak. Barren flower, a flower which has only stamens without a pistil, or which has neither stamens nor pistils. Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America northward of the forest regions. Barren Ground bear (Zol.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the brown bear of Europe. Barren Bar"ren n. 1. A tract of barren land. 2. pl. Elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, but not timber; as, pine barrens; oak barrens. They are not necessarily sterile, and are often fertile. [Amer.] J. Pickering. スポンサード リンク
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