Barren (bărr&eitalic_;n), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. bréhaigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. brékhañ, markhañ, sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc. barau, baru, fasting.] 1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young; sterile; -- said of women and female animals.
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She was barren of children. Bp. Hall.
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2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; sterile. “Barren mountain tracts.” Macaulay.
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3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.
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Brilliant but barren reveries. Prescott.
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Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter. Swift.
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4. Mentally dull; stupid. Shak.
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Barren flower, a flower which has only stamens without a pistil, or which has neither stamens nor pistils. -- Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America northward of the forest regions. -- Barren Ground bear (Zoöl.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the brown bear of Europe. -- Barren Ground caribou (Zoöl.), a small reindeer (Rangifer Grœnlandicus) peculiar to the Barren Grounds and Greenland.
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