bark

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /bɑrk/, SAMPA: /bArk/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /bɑːk/, SAMPA: /bA:k/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: barque

Noun

Singular bark

Plural barks

Bark on a tree

1. (uncountable) The outside part of a tree; the skin of the tree.

   I made the tea from sassafras bark.

2. (countable) A loud sound made by a dog or seal.

   I heard a bark and turned to see the dog.

Verb

Plain form bark

Third-person singular barks

Past tense barked

Past participle barked

Present participle barking

This dog is barking

1. When an animal barks it makes a loud, sharp sound.

   I couldn't sleep because the dog was barking all night!

2. To bark is to speak in a sharp way.

   He barked out orders, one after another.