/ ˈbærən; NAmE / adjective
1.
( of land or soil ) not good enough for plants to grow on it :
a barren desert
a barren landscape (= one that is empty, with few plants)
2.
( of plants or trees ) not producing fruit or seeds
SYN infertile
3.
( old-fashioned or formal ) ( of women or female animals ) not able to produce children or young animals
SYN infertile
4.
[ usually before noun ] not producing anything useful or successful :
The team will come through this barren patch and start to win again.
► bar·ren·ness / ˈbærənnəs; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French barhaine , of unknown origin.