An Encylopedia Britannica Company

barrel

1 barrel /ˈberəl/ noun
plural barrels
1 barrel
/ˈberəl/
noun
plural barrels
Britannica Dictionary definition of BARREL
[count]
: a round usually wooden container with curved sides and flat ends
: the amount of something in a barrel
see also pork barrel
: the part of a gun that the bullets go through when the gun is fired see picture at gun; see also lock, stock, and barrel at 1lock

a barrel of laughs

informal
: someone or something that is very funny often used in negative statements or in an ironic way to describe someone or something that is not really funny

more fun than a barrel (full) of monkeys

US, informal + somewhat old-fashioned
: very funny and enjoyable

over a barrel

: in a bad situation : in a situation where you are forced to do something you do not want to do

the bottom of the barrel

see 1bottom

— barreled

(US) or British barrelled /ˈberəld/ adjective
used in combination
see also double-barreled
2 barrel /ˈberəl/ verb
barrels; barreled also barrelled; barreling also barrelling
2 barrel
/ˈberəl/
verb
barrels; barreled also barrelled; barreling also barrelling
Britannica Dictionary definition of BARREL
always followed by an adverb or preposition [no object] US, informal
: to move very fast and often in an uncontrolled or dangerous way