barren
gb/bˈɛɹən/ us/bˈɛɹən/
B1
English
~ 4800
terméketlen, kopár, meddő
B1
1
terméketlen
B2
kopár
B2
Usage pattern:
[land/soil/area] is barren
The barren desert stretched for miles without a single tree.
A kopár sivatag mérföldeken át terült el, egyetlen fa nélkül.
Years of over-farming left the once-rich fields barren.
Az éveken át tartó túlzott művelés terméketlenné tette az egykor gazdag földeket.
We drove through a barren landscape of rocks and dust.
Learner examples
The land is barren and dry.
A föld terméketlen és száraz.
This soil is barren and cannot grow food.
Ez a talaj terméketlen, és nem lehet benne élelmiszernövényeket termeszteni.
We saw a barren desert on our trip.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'barren' with 'bare'. 'Bare' means without covering, while 'barren' means unable to produce life or growth.
Meaning
Unable to produce vegetation
Collocations
barren land
|barren soil
|barren desert
|barren landscape
Synonyms
infertile (More technical and often used in scientific or agricultural contexts.)
Antonyms
fertile (Describes land capable of producing abundant vegetation.)
Themes
nature
|agriculture
|environment
Definition
Not able to grow plants or crops.
Unable to produce plants, crops, or other vegetation.
B2
2
meddő
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is barren
She felt deep sadness after learning she was barren.
Mély szomorúságot érzett, amikor megtudta, hogy meddő.
In the past, being barren often carried social stigma.
A múltban a meddőség gyakran társadalmi megbélyegzéssel járt.
The mare was found to be barren after several attempts to breed her.
Learner examples
The woman is barren and cannot have children.
A nő meddő, és nem lehet gyermeke.
She learned she was barren after visiting the doctor.
Miután elment az orvoshoz, megtudta, hogy meddő.
The mare is barren and will not have foals.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'barren' with 'bare'. In this sense, 'barren' refers specifically to reproduction, not lack of covering.
Meaning
Unable to conceive children
Collocations
barren woman
|born barren
Synonyms
sterile (More clinical or medical in tone.)
Antonyms
fertile (Able to conceive and have children.)
Themes
health
|family
|animals
Definition
Not able to have children or babies.
Unable to produce offspring; sterile, especially in reference to a woman or female animal.
B2
3
terméketlen
B2
meddő
B2
Usage pattern:
[period/effort/discussion] is barren
It was a barren meeting with no new ideas.
Terméketlen megbeszélés volt, egyetlen új ötlet sem született.
The artist went through a barren period in his career.
A művész terméketlen időszakon ment keresztül a pályafutása során.
Our search for clues proved completely barren.
Learner examples
The talk was barren and gave no ideas.
A beszélgetés terméketlen volt, és semmilyen ötletet nem adott.
He had a barren time with no work.
Terméketlen időszaka volt, amikor nem dolgozott.
The search was barren and found nothing.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this sense for any kind of emptiness; it usually refers to lack of results, ideas, or productivity.
Meaning
Empty of value or interest
Collocations
barren effort
|barren discussion
|barren years
Synonyms
unproductive (Emphasizes lack of results rather than emptiness.)
Antonyms
fruitful (Producing good or useful results.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not having anything useful or interesting.
Lacking anything productive, valuable, or stimulating.
Grammar
Dictionary form
barren
IPA
GB/bˈɛɹən/
US/bˈɛɹən/
Syllables & stress
bar - ren (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bar)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: barren
Word family
Core family
barrenness
noun
Related words
infertile
adjective
infertility
noun
Negative and opposite forms
fertile
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
barrenly
adverb
Expressions
barren of
1/bˈɛɹən əv/
fixed phrase
Completely lacking something
Having none of a particular thing.
Examples
- The report was barren of new information.
- His speech was barren of emotion.