bar

Bar is a term with several distinct meanings across different domains. It can refer to a public house that serves alcoholic beverages; a unit of pressure in the metric system; a long, rigid piece of material used in construction and manufacturing; and a barrier of various kinds.

As a drinking establishment, a bar is a venue where customers order drinks and often gather at a counter. Bars vary in atmosphere, from casual to upscale, and may offer food, entertainment, and seating indoors or outdoors.

In science and engineering, the bar is defined as 100,000 pascals and is used to express pressure in many contexts, such as weather, hydraulics, and industrial processes. The term remains common in non-SI usage, though the pascal is the SI unit.

In music, a bar, or measure, represents a fixed number of beats in a piece of music, divided by bar lines on a staff. Time signatures determine how many beats are in each bar, such as four in 4/4 time.

A bar also designates a physical object: a straight rod or long piece of material, such as metal, wood, or plastic, used for support, linkage, or reinforcement. Bars come in various lengths, cross-sections, and finishes depending on purpose.

In law, the bar refers to the legal profession as a whole. Members who pass a bar examination and are admitted to practice are described as being “at the bar.” Bar associations regulate licensure and professional conduct.