bare

Bare is an English adjective meaning not clothed or not covered, and by extension unadorned or exposed. It describes physical states (bare feet, bare skin) or objects and spaces that are empty or lacking decoration (bare shelves, a bare wall). The sense can also convey simplicity or austerity, as in bare essentials or bare minimum, where the emphasis is on the absence of extra elements rather than on nakedness.

As a verb, bare means to uncover or reveal something that was hidden, such as baring one's chest or baring the truth. It can be used transitively (to bare the back) or metaphorically (to bare one's soul). The phrase “bare with me” is a common mis-spelling; the correct expression is “bear with me.”

Etymology and usage notes: bare derives from Old English and related Germanic roots, with the core sense tied to uncovering or exposing. It is distinct from the homophone bear, which has meanings including to endure and the animal; confusion is common in spoken language.

Other uses: in phrases like bare minimum, bare bones, bare facts, and bare essentials, the word emphasizes a lack of supplementary elements. In fashion, journalism, or everyday speech, bare can signal simplicity, straightforwardness, or starkness.

See also: bear, bare facts, bare essentials, bare bones, bare minimum.