a grain of barley
"The farmer harvested thousands of golden grains of barley from his field."
cultivated since prehistoric times; grown for forage and grain
"Farmers have been cultivating barley since prehistoric times, growing it primarily as a source of nutritious grain and winter forage."
A cereal of the species Hordeum vulgare, or its grains, often used as food or to make beer and other malted drinks.
"The farmer harvested a golden crop of barley from his field last summer."
In plain English: Barley is a type of grass that people grow and use to make beer, bread, and animal feed.
"We added barley to our soup for extra texture and nutrition."
Usage: Avoid confusing barley with oatmeal; while both are whole grain cereals, they differ significantly in texture and culinary applications. Barley is also distinct from the similar-sounding "barrel," which refers to a large cask rather than a food source.
A village in Hertfordshire, England.
"The historic stone church stands proudly in the centre of Barley, a quiet village in Hertfordshire, England."
The word "barley" comes from the Middle English term for something barley-like, which evolved directly from an Old English root meaning barley itself. This ancient Germanic origin traces back even further to a Proto-Indo-European concept describing a spike or prickle.