a piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.-an indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of lead; a bar of soap.-anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier.-a bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.-any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as, the bar of the house of commons.-the railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court.-the place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment, trial, or sentence.-the whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the legal profession.-a special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's action.-any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of god.-a barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where liquors for sale are kept.-an ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth part of the field.-a broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of color.-a vertical line across the staff. bars divide the staff into spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.-the space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed.-the part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the center of the sole.-a drilling or tamping rod.-a vein or dike crossing a lode.-a gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.-a slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass of a window; a sash bar.-to fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.-to restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; distance bars our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is barred by time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; -- sometimes with up.-to except; to exclude by exception.-to cross with one or more stripes or lines.