n.
Pronunciation: ' bärk
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English berken, from Old English beorcan; akin to Old Norse berkja to bark, Lithuanian burg ė ti to growl
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to make the characteristic short loud cry of a dog b : to make a noise resembling a bark
2 : to speak in a curt loud and usually angry tone : SNAP
transitive verb
1 : to utter in a curt loud usually angry tone <an officer bark ing orders>
2 : to advertise by persistent outcry < bark ing their wares>
– bark up the wrong tree : to promote or follow a mistaken course (as in doing research)