bark 1  (bärk)n.1. The harsh sound uttered by a dog.2. A sound, such as a cough, that is similar to a dog’s bark.v. barked, bark·ing, barks v.intr.1. To utter a bark.2. To make a sound similar to a bark: “The birds bark softly, sounding almost like young pups” (Charleston SC News and Courier).3. To speak sharply; snap: “a spot where you can just drop in … without anyone’s barking at you for failing to plan ahead” (Andy Birsh).4. To work as a barker, as at a carnival.v.tr. To utter in a loud, harsh voice: The quarterback barked out the signals.Idiom: bark up the wrong tree To misdirect one’s energies or attention.[From Middle English berken, to bark, from Old English beorcan.]bark 2  (bärk)n.1. The tough outer covering of the woody stems and roots of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. It includes all tissues outside the vascular cambium.2. A specific kind of bark used for a special purpose, as in tanning or medicine.tr.v. barked, bark·ing, barks 1. To remove bark from (a tree or log).2. To rub off the skin of; abrade: barked my shin on the car door.3. To tan or dye (leather or fabric) by steeping in an infusion of bark.4. To treat (a patient) using a medicinal bark infusion.[Middle English, from Old Norse börkr.]bark?y adj.bark 3 also barque  (bärk)n.1. A sailing ship with from three to five masts, all of them square-rigged except the after mast, which is fore-and-aft rigged.2. A small vessel that is propelled by oars or sails.[Middle English barke, boat, from Old French barque, from Old Italian barca, from Latin; akin to Latin b?ris, Egyptian flatbottom boat, from Greek, from Egyptian byr, br.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.bark (b??k) n1. the loud abrupt usually harsh or gruff cry of a dog or any of certain other animals2. a similar sound, such as one made by a person, gun, etc3. his/her bark is worse than his/her bite he or she is bad-tempered but harmlessvb4. (intr) (of a dog or any of certain other animals) to make its typical loud abrupt cry5. (intr) (of a person, gun, etc) to make a similar loud harsh sound6. to say or shout in a brusque, peremptory, or angry tone: he barked an order. 7. informal US to advertise (a show, merchandise, etc) by loudly addressing passers-by8. bark up the wrong tree informal to misdirect one’s attention, efforts, etc; be mistaken[Old English beorcan; related to Lithuanian burg?ti to quarrel, growl]bark (b??k) n1. (Botany) a protective layer of dead corky cells on the outside of the stems of woody plants2. (Tanning) any of several varieties of this substance that can be used in tanning, dyeing, or in medicine3. (Pharmacology) an informal name for cinchonavb (tr) 4. to scrape or rub off skin, as in an injury5. (Forestry) to remove the bark or a circle of bark from (a tree or log)6. to cover or enclose with bark7. (Tanning) to tan (leather), principally by the tannins in barks[C13: from Old Norse börkr; related to Swedish, Danish bark, German Borke; compare Old Norse björkr birch]bark (b??k) n (Nautical Terms) a variant spelling (esp US) of barqueCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014bark1 (b?rk) n. 1. the abrupt, explosive cry of a dog. 2. a similar sound made by another animal, as a fox. 3. a short, explosive sound, as of firearms. 4. a brusque order, reply, etc. 5. a cough. v.i. 6. (of a dog or other animal) to utter an abrupt, explosive cry. 7. to make a similar sound: The big guns barked. 8. to speak sharply or gruffly. 9. to advertise some attraction, as a carnival sideshow, by standing outside and calling to passersby. 10. to cough. v.t. 11. to utter in a harsh, shouting tone: to bark orders at subordinates. Idioms: bark up the wrong tree, to misdirect one’s thoughts or efforts. [before 900; Middle English berken, Old English beorcan; akin to Old English borcian to bark, Old Norse berkja to bluster] bark?less, adj. bark2 (b?rk) n. 1. the external covering of the woody stems, branches, and roots of plants, as distinct and separable from the wood itself. 2. a mixture of oak and hemlock barks used in tanning. 3. candy, usu. of chocolate with large pieces of nuts, made in flat sheets. v.t. 4. to scrape the skin of, as by bumping into something. 5. to treat with a bark infusion; tan. 6. to strip the bark from; peel. [1250?1300; Middle English