Barren Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of BARREN

1

a

:

having very few plants

:

not suitable for plants

• a barren [=_desolate_] landscape
• a barren desert
• Few creatures can thrive on these barren mountaintops.

b

:

not producing fruit or not able to produce fruit

• a barren tree
• a barren orchard

2

old-fashioned, of a woman or female animal

:

not able to produce children or offspring

:

infertile

• a barren woman

3

[more barren; most barren]

:

not exciting or interesting

• The book was good, but I found the barren lives of the characters depressing.
• a very barren routine

4

:

not producing good or useful things, ideas, etc.

• an artist who is going through a barren period
• a barren mind

:

not having (something)

:

without

• a hillside barren of trees

— barrenness

noun

[noncount]

• the barrenness of the land/soil