barks

barks

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Pronunciation

Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown

The IPA phonetic spelling for the English word "barks" is /bɑːrks/ (in General American) or /bɑːks/ (in Received Pronunciation).

The word has one syllable.

• /bɑːrks/ (or /bɑːks/):

• Onset: /b/ (voiced bilabial stop)

• Nucleus: /ɑːr/ (or /ɑː/) (open back rounded vowel followed by rhotic sound, or just an open back rounded vowel)

• Coda: /ks/ (voiceless velar stop followed by a voiceless alveolar fricative)

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Word Form Variations

The word "barks" is a common English term with the following variations:

• Base Form / Infinitive (Verb): bark

• Simple Present Tense (Third-Person Singular Verb): barks (The form requested)

• Present Participle / Gerund (Verb/Noun): barking

• Simple Past Tense (Verb): barked

• Past Participle (Verb): barked

• Singular (Noun): bark

• Plural (Noun): barks (The form requested)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun (Plural: Barks)

Definition 1: The outer covering of a tree. The protective, rugged, and usually rough outer layer of a tree trunk, branches, and roots, which is shed or expands as the tree grows.

• Synonyms: rind, cortex, casing, skin, covering, shell

• Antonyms: wood, core, interior, pith

Definition 2: The sound made by a dog. A short, explosive, and usually loud vocal utterance made by a dog or other canid, often as an alert, challenge, or expression of excitement.

• Synonyms: yelps, howls, cries, woofs, snarls, bays

• Antonyms: whines, mumbles, whispers, murmurs, silence

Verb (Third-Person Singular Simple Present: Barks)

Definition 1: To make a sharp, loud cry (as a dog does). To utter a short, abrupt, and loud vocal sound, typical of a dog, often directed at people, other animals, or objects.

• Synonyms: yelps, howls, bays, woofs, snarls, shouts

• Antonyms: whines, whispers, murmurs, mumbles, sobs

Definition 2: To speak sharply or aggressively. To say something in a short, abrupt, and often rude or commanding manner, resembling the tone of a dog's cry.

• Synonyms: snaps, snarls, commands, yells, demands, shouts

• Antonyms: coaxes, requests, suggests, murmurs, pleads, whispers

Definition 3: To scrape or strip the outer layer. To rub or bump a part of the body, especially skin on a shin or elbow, resulting in a superficial scrape, or to deliberately remove the protective outer layer of a tree.

• Synonyms (Skin): scrapes, grazes, abrades, scratches, nicks

• Synonyms (Tree): strips, peels, denudes, skins

• Antonyms: heals, covers, protects, smooths, soothes

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Examples of Use

Here are several real-world examples illustrating the use of the word "barks" as both a plural noun (the outer layer of a tree) and a third-person singular present tense verb (the sound a dog makes or speaking sharply).

From Books and Literature

1. Noun (Plural for tree covering): "We saw the barks of redwoods, thick and fire-resistant, that protected the giants from past infernos." (Adapted from The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, 2007)

2. Verb (Sound a dog makes): "The terrier often barks at the mail carrier as a territorial display." (Adapted from Dog Sense by John Bradshaw, October 2011)

From Newspapers and Online Publications

1. Verb (Speaking sharply): "The editor barks commands at the reporters as the deadline approaches, demanding clarity and speed." (Adapted from a style typical of journalistic coverage)

2. Noun (Plural for dog sounds): "The constant barks from the neighboring kennel have become a point of contention among residents in the area." (Adapted from a local newspaper article concerning community disputes)

3. Noun (Plural for tree covering): "Researchers are studying the unique chemical compounds found in the barks of various medicinal trees to isolate new treatments." (Adapted from a science news report on ethnobotany)

From Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

1. Verb (Sound a dog makes): In a popular animated series, a character is often quoted, "My dog only barks when someone is at the door, never at squirrels." (Adapted from a quote typical of an animated sitcom)

2. Verb (Speaking sharply): "He’s a stereotypical, tough-as-nails sergeant who just barks orders at the recruits, never offering a kind word." (Adapted from a review of a military drama film)

In General Public Discourse

1. Noun (Plural for tree covering): "When hiking, you can identify different tree species just by looking closely at the textures and patterns of their barks." (Common advice in nature guides and public speaking about forestry)

2. Verb (Sound a dog makes): "I wish my neighbor would train their pet; it barks all night long and keeps me awake." (A common complaint heard in residential public discourse)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Barks

1. "You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks." (Winston Churchill)

2. "A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." (John Calvin)

3. "The dogs with the loudest barks are the ones that are most afraid." (Norman Reedus)

4. "When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!" (David Starr Jordan)

5. "Jealousy is a dog's bark which attracts thieves." (Karl Kraus)

6. "On pavements and the barks of trees I have found whole worlds." (Mark Tobey)

7. "As the poet said, 'Only God can make a tree,' probably because it's so hard to figure out how to get the bark on." (Woody Allen)

8. "Journalists are like dogs, when ever anything moves they begin to bark." (Arthur Schopenhauer)

9. "The Lion Does Not Turn Around When the Small Dog Barks." (African Proverb)

10. "Every once in a while someone barks at me. My New Year's resolution is not to bark back." (Tucker Carlson)

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Etymology

The word "bark" actually has two completely separate origins in English, even though they are spelled and pronounced the same today.

1. "Bark" (The Dog's Sound or a Loud Shout)

• Origin: This meaning comes from a long line of words that simply mimic the sound itself. It is a very old Germanic word.

• Root: It traces back to the Old English verb $beorcan$ (before 1150 AD), meaning "to bark."

• First Known Meaning: The original, first known use of this verb was literally to "make the characteristic short, loud cry of a dog." The sound itself inspired the word. It's an example of an onomatopoeia, or a word created to imitate a sound.

2. "Bark" (The Outer Covering of a Tree)

• Origin: This meaning comes from Old Norse (the language of the Vikings). The original native English word for this was "rind."

• Root: It came into Middle English (around 1300 AD) from the Old Norse word $bǫrkr$ (or $bǫrkr$), which meant "bark" or "rind."

• First Known Meaning: The first documented meaning of this version of the word was "the hard, protective, outer covering of a tree or other plant." This Scandinavian word replaced the native English word "rind" over time.

In summary:

The sound a dog makes (to bark) is an imitation word from very old English, while the covering of a tree (the bark) is an entirely different word borrowed from Old Norse.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Barks

Common Idioms (Dog/Sound Related)

1. His/Her bark is worse than their bite: Used to describe someone who sounds threatening or angry, but whose actions or personality are actually harmless or much less severe than their words suggest.

2. To bark up the wrong tree: To make a mistaken attempt to find someone or something; to pursue a false lead or blame the wrong person.

3. Barking mad: (Primarily British English) Completely crazy or insane.

4. All bark and no bite: A variant of the first idiom, describing someone or something that appears aggressive or formidable but lacks the ability or willingness to follow through with threats.

Lesser-Known & Original Phrases

1. A dog that barks at the wind: A phrase for someone who wastes energy complaining about things they can't change, or who issues empty warnings.

2. The sound of the fox's barks: A specific, sharp cry or yelp made by a fox, often used in rural or hunting contexts.

3. To clear the bark from the trunk: Used literally (to strip the outer layer of a tree) or figuratively to mean getting rid of superficial or unnecessary issues to reach the core problem.

4. To receive a barked command: To be given an order or instruction in a sharp, abrupt, and often unfriendly tone.

5. The winter barks: (An original phrase, referring to the tree covering) Used poetically to describe the rough, cold, or bare texture of tree trunks visible in the winter landscape.

6. The watchman's barks: (An original phrase, referring to the sound) Used to describe a series of alarm cries or shouted warnings.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of barks from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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