What does "barbican" mean?
A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town.
Barbican
/ˈbɑːbɪkən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town.
- Grammar: barbican is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abatis, advanced work, antenna tower, approach court.
- Useful contrasts: central gate, inner court, inner fortress.
- Usage evidence: Whilst visiting London, walking in the neighbourhood of the Barbican Centre, I chanced upon a fish and chip shop, where I ordered ravishing fish and chips, wrapped in newspaper. I could get nothing like it back in North America.
How to use "barbican"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "barbican" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "barbican" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "barbican" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "barbican" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "barbican" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abatis" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "barbican", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A tower at the entrance to a castle or fortified town.
"The stone part of the drawbridge with its barbican and the bartizans of the gatehouse are in good repair. […] There was a large hidden trapdoor in the floor of the barbican, which would let them into the moat after all."
- 2 a tower that is part of a defensive structure (such as a castle) wordnet
- 3 A fortress at the end of a bridge.
- 4 An opening in the wall of a fortress through which the guns are levelled; a narrow loophole through which arrows and other missiles may be shot.
"Two shafts of soft daylight fell across the flagged floor from the high barbacans."
- 5 A temporary wooden tower built for defensive purposes.
Proper Noun
- 1 A neighbourhood in Plymouth, Devon, England (OS grid ref SX4854).
- 2 A neighbourhood and residential estate in the City of London, Greater London, England (OS grid ref TQ3281)
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
central gateinner courtinner fortressinner gate
Example
"Whilst visiting London, walking in the neighbourhood of the Barbican Centre, I chanced upon a fish and chip shop, where I ordered ravishing fish and chips, wrapped in newspaper. I could get nothing like it back in North America."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "barbican"?
Common synonyms include: abatis, advanced work, antenna tower, approach court, balistraria, bank.
How do you use "barbican" in a sentence?
Whilst visiting London, walking in the neighbourhood of the Barbican Centre, I chanced upon a fish and chip shop, where I ordered ravishing fish and chips, wrapped in newspaper. I could get nothing like it back in North America.
How do you pronounce "barbican"?
Pronounced /ˈbɑːbɪkən/.
Etymology
From Old French barbacane, of uncertain origin: compare Arabic بَرْبَخ (barbaḵ, “aqueduct, sewer”), and Persian بابخانه (bâb-xâne, “gatehouse”).